The world's media watched on intently on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing's imposing Great Hall of the People to put pen to paper on a new "cooperation" pact with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
The Kremlin has denied there is any link between the Russian leader's visit and that of US President Donald Trump just days before. But the timing has undoubtedly raised eyebrows, especially across Europe, where fears of being sidelined in global affairs have been mounting.
