In China, a 'Show of Solidarity' Against the US

Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping continued presenting a strong united front to the world—and seemingly to President Trump in particular—on Tuesday.

• Putin, in China for a summit of the 10-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization, praised Xi as his "dear friend" and said relations between their two countries "had reached their highest level in history," reports NBC News.
• Xi, meanwhile, said the ties between Moscow and Beijing had "withstood the test of a changing international situation and set an example for relations between major countries," per the New York Times.
• A third notable figure arrived on Tuesday via train: North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Reuters describes it all as a "show of solidarity with countries shunned by the West over their role in Europe's worst war in 80 years."

• The remarks came a day after Xi criticized the "bullying practices" of other nations, a line seen as directed at Trump, though Xi did not name him, notes Politico. Also on Monday, Putin, Xi, and India's Narendra Modi posed together for a photo, in what was seen as another message to the US.
• On Wednesday, Xi will host a massive parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.