BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping will host Russia's Vladimir Putin, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres and more than 20 heads of government later this month, Beijing said on Friday, for a political and security meet aimed at cementing China's regional influence.

It is rare for Chinese presidents to attend ASEAN summits, with Xi only having joined a 2021 special summit virtually since he gained power in 2012. Attendance by U.S. presidents is also uncommon - Trump attended in 2017, while President Joe Biden joined Xi remotely in 2021. Biden also attended the summit in person in Cambodia the following year.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the European Union to make “the right strategic choice” and enhance cooperation with China, while EU leaders called for a rebalancing of trade ties, as the two sides tackle deep-seated grievances at a tense summit in Beijing.

Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has, with great political courage, vigorously promoted theoretical exploration and innovation, and deepened understanding of the ruling laws of Communist parties,

China’s “bedside eavesdroppers,” the online posse parsing rumors for power shifts, have a lot to work with as Xi Jinping pushes aside his own political appointees.

Yet analysts say the Chinese leader is likely holding out for concrete deliverables before agreeing to the high-profile meeting. Trump dramatically escalated the trade war with the world's second-largest economy in April, rolling out sweeping new tariffs that prompted China to respond with its own export duties and other measures.

In other words, Xi’s iron grip on the military not only endures, it is also indicative of his obsession with breaking the PLA’s insularity and endemic corruption and ensuring that, should he need to bet the regime on the military’s prowess, it will not fail.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed improving ties with China as the two sides seek to reset relations amid mounting tariff pressure from US President Donald Trump.