Financial TimesFinancial Times

Xi Jinping aims to reassert China’s influence on first foreign trip since Covid began

By Edward White

12 Sep 2022 · 3 min read

Editor's Note

The FT reports on the Chinese president's upcoming trip to meet Putin, a visit aimed at cementing his legitimacy at home ahead of a third term—and strengthening the "anti-American front" abroad.

Xi Jinping will find the world much changed this week when he sets foot on foreign soil for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started in Wuhan, central China, in early 2020.

Since the Chinese president all but closed his country’s doors in February of that year, Russia has invaded Ukraine and the US has rallied western nations and democratic allies to counter China’s rise.

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