Beijing is acting as a global diplomatic “operations room” this month, hosting visits in sequence from US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, signalling a shift toward a multipolar world order.
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14–15 to discuss trade, economic competition and efforts to mediate an end to the Iran conflict, according to official announcements confirming the state visit.
Sharif’s visit from May 23–25 focuses on accelerating the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, with discussions also touching on Pakistan’s facilitation of US-Iran peace efforts.
China is concurrently hosting the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit on May 18, highlighting initiatives for manufacturing integration, AI in trade, supply chain resilience, and global investment promotion.
Analysts say the concentration of high-level visits underscores Beijing’s role in reshaping geopolitical dynamics and advancing economic diplomacy, moving away from a unipolar world and enhancing China’s influence in regional and global affairs.
