Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi greeted Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin upon arrival in Beijing, China, for a summit with Chairman Xi Jinping just days after Xi and President Trump spent two days in personal conference.
There will be more details from this visit that will surface in the next several hours and few days; however, for those who walk the deep weeds the video of the arrival is very interesting. Russia controls Russian interests in all things, including diplomatic missions. Foreign Minister Wang Yi greets President Putin and there are customary celebratory festivities on the tarmac that most are familiar with.
Putin is walking briskly, very deliberately and giving warm waves to the assembled children. But Putin is all business, focused and walking fast. Minister Yi slows his pace in an effort to slow Putin and emphasize the welcome. Putin keeps forward momentum. It’s subtle, but so typically Russian in approach. Nothing extraneous, nothing off script, nothing casual – straight, predictable and forward.
Notice the Russian control and immediate separation at the moment when they reach the end of the red carpet. Wang Yi and the Chinese welcome delegation as well as all security elements just disappear as in typical Russian fashion the Russian security service takes control from there.
It is a subtle difference between the merged casual formality of a U.S-China visit, and the hard lines of a Putin visit. I find myself thinking about what a difference it would make in relations between our nations if Americans really understood Russians. Russians are not cold per se’, they just don’t do casual very well.
There’s no “small talk” in Russian culture. There is talking that has a purpose and benefit – or there is silence. It is a facet of cultural distinction that many Americans just don’t understand. There are no pretenses and everything is deliberate.
“There’s no “small talk” in Russian culture. There is talking that has a purpose and benefit – or there is silence.”
And the Russian language reflects that ethnic personality perfectly. There are no articles, no “a” or “the.” There is no “May I please have a cookie if you aren’t too busy.” There is only a Cookie Monsteresque “Give me cookie.”
Understandable why during Imperial Russian times the Russian aristocracy spoke only French, no Russian at all. Also highlights the inherent internal self-proclaiming falseness of Dugin’s fairy tale of the Historic Great Russian Civilization that Putin buys into. Whatever. Makes the world a varied and interesting place.
Everything the Chinese did for Trump seems to be there for Putin, except Xi wasn’t present.
Why?
Does it tell us which one controls the other?
It may tell you that the American economy is the 900 pound gorilla on the planet at a whopping annual GDP of $32 Trillion, China is number two at $20 Trillion, then dropping precipitously to number 3 Germany at $5.4 Trillion, then eventually getting down to Russia at number 9 at $2.6 Trillion, right behind Italy’s 2.7 Trillion. Lucky to get a decent hotel room.
To be fair Russia lost many millions in the 20th Century. It is building back it’s population, or trying to do so.
was Xi at airport for Trump?
no
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” from “The Shining” just made me think of that for some reason. 😉
All work and no play makes IVAN a dull boy … but Ivan does not care. Ivan is busy trying to survive.
“Here comes the new boss; same as the old boss” are the guide words, and yes, communism, per se, has been under the rug for a few decades and more, but old cultural habits, pounded into the Russian people for several decades, die hard. [One funeral at a time, so to speak.]
Some of these habits are good; others, not so much. Sundance summed it up reasonably well, I believe, as based on my experiences: “Russians are not cold per se; they just don’t do casual very well.”
In the meantime, regarding myself: just like many other ex-pats, for well over a decade, all told, my family and I worked and lived in Russia and Ukraine, and, in general, I can attest to the veracity of the Sundance comment.
In closing, IMO, sooner rather than later — I would hope — America, via the diplomatic and economic doors that our POTUS Trump seems to be opening, will bear some fruit; the specifics of which, remain a long way off, but I can only guess and hope.
Kindest regards.
Putin even takes his coat off before getting in the car..🧐
“There is talking that has a purpose and benefit – or there is silence.”
Now that is my kind of place!!!!!
Not for me..I like chitchat. 🥰
Wonder if Putin will be visiting Zhongnanhai again this time? Right after PDJT’s visit there. That was of a powerful clear significance.
Oh nooooooo! Xi didn’t meet Putin at the tarmac! What a snub! (sarc over).
Wonder what the Eyeores will latch on to next?
Remember Obama getting off the back of the plane? In a Mao suit no less?
Whatever was discussed between Trump and Xi on the AI race, must not have been good for CCP. Their US agents have been busy.
Facebook and X have been bombarded with anti-data center propaganda (environmental dangers, energy and water drain, pollution hype, even no jobs – just robots doing the work) at an exponential rate, since Trumps visit.
Same with yesterdays 1776 Fund. Sudden mass diversion and propaganda clips from all Dems on social and msm media.
I noticed that too.
Few months ago they were promoting AI as the future of the world. “Learn AI or be left behind!!”
Now is all, “AI is going to kill us all!” “There will be no water!” Etc,…
do we know what vehicles Russia use?
Probably an Aurus, the modern replacement for the old Zils.
Sundance, I think, said that the Russians drive Chinese made battery operated cars.
Three strong military nations meeting within weeks. Europe must be getting nervous by now.
China doesn’t seem like a country that would have any Bad Bunny types greeting the Russian president.
What are the young people chanting?