Within the span of just a few days, Xi Jinping welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing, two leaders whose countries remain deeply at odds globally.

But while both visits received full state-visit treatment, the tone, optics and outcomes were very different.

Trump left Beijing without a major joint statement or formal agreements. Putin, on the other hand, signed more than 20 cooperation deals with Xi, reaffirmed a “multipolar world,” and showcased what both sides called an “unbreakable friendship.”

So what exactly is China trying to signal here? And how is Beijing managing relationships with both Washington and Moscow at the same time?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Alexander Korolev, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, to find out more.