A body language expert says Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared more relaxed and commanding than his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the first meeting on Monday as part of Xi Jinping’s official visit to Moscow.
Western countries are sure to scrutinize every detail of the talks between the world’s two most powerful but secretive leaders as Putin seeks Xi’s support for an invasion of Ukraine and his help in closing the trade gap left by wide-ranging Western sanctions.
Karen Leong, managing director of Singapore-based Influence Solutions, said Xi caught Putin for a split second as he extended his hand for their customary handshake, suggesting that “although he is visiting Moscow, he will be the one to take the lead in this relationship.” .”
Louise Mahler, a Melbourne-based expert on body language and leader behavior, takes a similar view, noting that Xi put his hand on Putin’s, which could also indicate a degree of dominance.
As they sat down together to exchange swear words through interpreters, greeting each other as “dear friend,” Mahler said Putin hunched over, bent his leg, clenched his fist, and stared at the floor, indicative of underlying excitement.
Xi, meanwhile, looked “calm and confident.”
Leong noticed the same tics in Putin, in contrast to his seemingly relaxed demeanor.
“Compared to Xi, the Chinese president is a tough politician,” he said. “He has great authority, great eye contact, he looks at Putin like an older brother looks at a younger, younger comrade.”
Putin, 70, is actually a few months older than Xi and has been in power for more than twice as long.
Leong said that Xi hinted that he was also feeling some pressure, blinking his eyes unusually frequently during the meeting.
Kim Hyun-hee, director of the Korea Body Language Lab, said the firm handshake and instances of the men trying to avoid eye contact showed that there was a lot at stake for both of them.
“They have high hopes for the meeting. You can detect tension. Of course, you know that there are no true friends in politics.”
Source: Reuters.
Source: Kathimerini
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