XI shows Trump holding the cards while he sets a meeting with Kim and Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong -un, who attended a military parade in the center of Beijing, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Ci Jinping, is a rather photo operative.

This is also a key diplomatic victory for the XI.

The Chinese leader is trying hard to design Beijing’s power on the international stage – not only as the second largest economy in the world, but also as a diplomatic heavyweight category.

He emphasized the role of China as a stable trading partner as Trump’s rates raised economic relations.

Now, as the deal with Putin to end the war in Ukraine continues to avoid the US president, he is preparing to host him in Beijing.

Kim’s visit, a surprising message, is no less significant. Trump said earlier this week at a meeting with South Korea President that He wanted to meet again with Kim Jong UnS

His last shot at diplomacy with the courting dictator ended without breakthroughs – despite two summits at the top that conquered the world. Trump suggests he wants to try again.

In the meantime, the Chinese leader signals that it can hold geopolitical cards in this game and that its influence – albeit limited – on both Kim and Putin can be decisive in any transaction.

The parade on September 3 will be displayed by China’s military forces to mark 80 years since Japan surrendered during World War II, which would end the occupation of parts of China.

But now the XI has also turned it into showing something more – and the weather is key. The White House suggested that President Trump could be in the region at the end of October and open for a meeting with XI.

There is a lot on the table to discuss a deal with long -awaited tariffs and the sale of Tiktok in the United States, to Beijing’s ability to persuade Putin to agree to termination or more in Ukraine.

Now that he met with Kim and Putin, the Chinese leader would be able to sit with Trump without feeling as if he was left out of the loop – and given his close relationship with the two leaders, he may even have information that his American counterpart does not.

Russia and North Korea are pari in the eyes of the Western world. Kim for much longer than Putin because of his weapon program, but his support for Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine has renewed the conviction.

So Invitation to Beijing is a big step for him – the last time the North Korean leader attended a military parade in China was in 1959.

There is little public contact between the XI and Kim of 2019, when they met to mark the 70th anniversary of Korean ties in China-North. Beijing was also the first stop of Kim Jong Un in 2018. Before his summit with President Trump to limit Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

Most recently XI even appeared on the sidelines of the deepening Moscow-Pianan Alliance, one that maybe Beijing didn’t want part ofS

China tried to remain publicly neutral during the war in Ukraine, while demanding a peaceful decision. But the US and its allies have accused Beijing of supporting Moscow’s efforts by delivering components that Russia can use in their military efforts.

Some analysts wondered if China’s relations with North Korea had broken down as Kim approached Putin. But Kim’s visit to Beijing next week suggests another.

This is not a connection that the North Korean leader can easily refuse – his economy depends to a large extent on China, which provides almost 90% of food imports. And at this stage not only with Putin and SI, but also other leaders, from Indonesia, Iran, etc., also offers the legitimacy of Kim.

For the XI, this is a diplomatic leverage with Washington before the possible summit with Trump.

The two countries continue to talk to try to make a deal and divert destructive tariffs and a trade war. Another 90-day break is underway, but the clock is ticking, so the XI will want the strongest hand as possible as the negotiations continue.

He has something to offer: China helped Trump in the past when he tried to meet Kim Jong Un. Can you do this again?

More importantly, it may be what role China can play in ending the war in Ukraine.

The most betrayal of all: can there be a meeting between your own, Putin, Kim and Donald Trump?