Tianjin: The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a "detailed" discussion prior to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
According to Anadolu Agency, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov informed journalists in Tianjin that the two leaders had an active and effective conversation, primarily focusing on the latest interactions between Russia and the United States.
Putin arrived in China on Sunday for a four-day visit, during which he will participate in the 25th SCO Heads of State Council meeting. Throughout his visit, he is also expected to engage in multiple discussions on the sidelines of the summit, as well as attend events marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. A parade is scheduled to take place at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Wednesday as part of these commemorations.
Beijing refers to the 1937-1945 period as the "War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression," considering it a crucial segment of the larger "World Anti-Fascist War." Ushakov also commented on the yet-to-meet status of Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is also attending the summit. However, he mentioned that the Russian delegation has been in active communication with Azerbaijani officials.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shared that Putin and Xi's conversation occurred during a banquet welcoming international guests for the summit. He expressed hope for a potential meeting between Putin and Aliyev on Monday. Peskov also described an earlier meeting between Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as "good and lengthy," noting that Putin had agreed to further bilateral meetings with various leaders during the banquet.