A s president xi jinping stood shoulder to shoulder with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, watching Russian and Chinese soldiers marching across Red Square on May 9th, they could have been mistaken for equals.

The Chinese leader begins a long four-day visit to Russia this week to "further strengthen their close relationship," according to a Beijing spokesperson. The Chinese army's Honor Guard paraded through the streets of Moscow on Sunday night.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement “further deepening” their partnership following talks in Moscow Thursday – a show of solidarity in the face of global uncertainties unleashed by US President Donald Trump’s “America First” diplomacy.