"Xi Jinping and Putin strengthen economic ties amidst political tensions"

Chinese President Xi Jinping stayed in a presidential suite at the Chinese-owned Soluxe Hotel on the outskirts of Moscow during his state visit, causing major traffic closures for his commute to the Kremlin. The hotel is a symbol of the growing economic ties between Moscow and Beijing, with most of its occupants being Chinese businesses involved in bilateral trade. Xi's visit was surrounded by public spectacle, with nonstop media coverage proclaiming the increasingly intertwined economic relations between Russia and China. The grandiose optics delivered a clear message: a new, strong, united front against the West.