Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing this week, with the Chinese leader using the occasion to call for a halt to fighting in the Middle East.

The meeting between the two leaders comes just days after Xi hosted former U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting China's engagement with leaders from both Russia and the United States during a period of heightened global tensions.

During his remarks with Putin, Xi made statements that appeared to indirectly reference the United States, though he did not explicitly name the country in his comments about international affairs.

The timing of the Putin visit, following so closely after Trump's presence in Beijing, underscores the complex diplomatic balancing act China is navigating as it maintains relationships with various world powers while tensions persist in multiple global regions.

The leaders' discussion of Middle East conflicts reflects China's broader diplomatic efforts to position itself as a mediator in international disputes, as Beijing seeks to expand its influence in global affairs beyond its traditional focus on regional Asian matters.