The Peking order: Xi meets Putin after Trump

<p>Within the space of a week Chinese president <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2026/05/18/now-its-vladimir-putins-turn-to-visit-beijing?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xi Jinping</a> has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/05/20/in-football-britain-has-a-world-beating-industry?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premier League</a> got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/05/14/who-wants-to-relax-on-holiday?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">adrenaline-fuelled</a> activities.</p><br /><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent</li><li>Sonny Loughran, Britain writer</li><li>Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Topics covered:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump</li><li>Premier League, football, soccer</li><li>Adrenaline holidays, darecations</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a></p><br /><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account. </em></p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>