Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on the evening of 19/5, beginning a two-day visit. He was seen taking off his outer jacket before boarding his special vehicle at the airport. On 20/5, he repeated this action upon leaving after more than 4 hours of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, an act captured on video that quickly gained widespread attention online.
According to China News, this gesture is considered unusual because in Russian culture, people typically remove their jackets only indoors or in very relaxed settings. The video, showing Putin's action, has since attracted over 2,5 million views, along with hundreds of thousands of likes and comments across social media platforms.
Reactions on Weibo, China's popular social media platform, varied. Data from Weibo's summary tool indicated that approximately 45% of comments interpreted Putin's jacket removal as a friendly gesture, symbolizing the amicable relationship between China and Russia. About 35% of users believed it was a normal reaction due to Beijing's relatively warm temperatures at the time. The remaining comments suggested that people should avoid overanalyzing or attributing excessive political significance to the action.
"Perhaps he was just too hot", commented a user named Bone.
However, another user countered, "I believe, given Putin's personality, this was an intentional gesture. He could have easily removed his jacket after entering the car, but he chose to do it in front of everyone. Perhaps he wanted to express his trust in China."
A third person remarked, "Beijing was quite cool that evening. I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and even felt a bit cold. I think he wanted to convey something."
"He has visited China for the 25th time; he's very familiar with it", another user commented. "So, removing his jacket indicates he feels at home, like visiting family in China."
The 19-20/5 visit marked Putin's second meeting with Xi within one year, following the Russian leader's 4-day trip in late 8/2025. During their talks, Putin lauded the Russia-China relationship as being at an "unprecedentedly high level", underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations.
After years of facing pressure from Western nations, Moscow has increasingly fostered its relationship with Beijing across various sectors, including trade, technology, and energy. Concurrently, China views Russia as a vital strategic partner, crucial for ensuring its energy security and expanding its international influence on the global stage.
By Hong Hanh
