Western countries will certainly be scrutinizing every detail of the talks between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin – two of the world’s most powerful but also mysterious leaders – as Putin seeks Xi’s support to invade Ukraine and help China fill the economic gap left by sweeping Western sanctions. , reports Reuters.

But body language experts say Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared more calm and commanding than his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their first televised meeting on Monday as part of Xi Jinping’s state visit to Moscow.

Karen Leong, managing director of Singapore-based Influence Solutions, noted that Xi was a split second ahead of Putin when he addressed him, suggesting that “even though he is visiting Moscow, he will be the one taking the lead in this relationship.”

Louise Mahler, an Australian expert on the body language and behavior of leaders, had a similar view, noting that Xi placed his hand on Putin’s, which could also indicate a degree of dominance in the relationship.

As they stood together in front of the press to exchange polite remarks through translators, greeting each other with the words “dear friend,” Mahler noticed that Putin bent over, moved his foot, clenched his fist and looked down at the floor, suggesting: basic excitement. Xi, meanwhile, appeared “relaxed and confident.”

Leong observed the same tics in Putin, contrasting with his apparently relaxed demeanor. “If you compare him to Xi, Xi is a calm statesman,” she said. “He has great weight, excellent eye contact, he looks at Putin the way an older brother looks at a smaller junior partner,” the expert says.

Putin, 70, is actually several months older than Xi and has been in power twice as long.

However, Leon says Xi also betrayed that he was feeling some pressure by blinking unusually frequently during the meeting.

Kim Hyun-hee, director of the Korea Body Language Laboratory, said the cordial handshakes and the fact that the two often tried to avoid direct eye contact showed that the meeting was high on both of them. “They have high expectations from the meeting. You can see the tension – and you understand that there are no real friends in politics,” the expert said.