Beijing: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and commemorate World War II-related events.
According to Anadolu Agency, Putin's four-day visit was announced by the Kremlin, emphasizing the invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. This visit marks Putin's first to China since May 2024. During the visit, Putin will address the SCO's 25th Heads of State Council meeting, where discussions will focus on expanding cooperation within the SCO and addressing current international and regional issues.
The Kremlin also announced that Putin will participate in an "SCO Plus" format meeting, which includes the organization's observer countries and dialogue partners. Additionally, a trilateral summit will take place in Beijing with Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, alongside other high-level discussions, including a bilateral meeting with Xi.
The talks will include global and regional issues and cooperation at multilateral venues. Putin is also set to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. Russia, a founding member of the SCO, continues to maintain strong ties with China within the organization.
The summit is occurring amid rising geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Gaza Strip, efforts to mediate the Russia-Ukraine war, and international tariff disputes. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned that Putin will engage in discussions with various leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.