Putin, Xi Meet at Key SCO Summit

Russia, China leaders promote closer ties as regional powers gather

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks Monday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as leaders from across the region gathered for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were among the leaders attending the summit, which marks the SCO’s 25th anniversary.

Putin and Xi discussed growing bilateral ties, with Xi saying relations between China and Russia had become “more solid” and expressing confidence in their future prospects.

Xi also warned of rising uncertainty in the international order, while Putin said cooperation between Moscow and Beijing was developing “on all fronts.”

The summit comes more than four years after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Putin also held talks with Modi, with the two leaders arriving together in the same car. Putin said Moscow was moving towards a resolution of the Ukraine conflict but provided no further details.