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Marching columns in Beijing pointed to a present of power; a pipeline blueprint pointed to a future of interdependence.
Putin praised Xi and their strategic rapport, capping meetings with a flurry of accords.
Kim Jong-un’s high-profile arrival, with Kim Ju-ae, framed Pyongyang as part of the week’s narrative arc.
Putin’s dialogue with Robert Fico accentuated Europe’s split views on sanctions and security.
Visa-free entry for Russians and deepened coordination with Mongolia rounded out the connectivity push.