Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin and other regional leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16.
The 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO was chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and attended by leaders of SCO member states including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
All eyes were on this first face-to-face meeting between the Chinese and Russian leaders since the invasion of Ukraine. The visit to Central Asia is Xi Jinping’s first foreign trip in more than two years since the pandemic.
“China is ready to work with Russia in extending strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests,” Chinese President said, citing agriculture, trade, and communications as areas for practical mutual cooperation.
China will collaborate with Russia to play the role of big powers by injecting stability into a turbulent and intertwined world, Xi added.
In response, the Russian President Putin was quoted as saying, “The world is undergoing many changes, but the only thing that remains unchanged is the friendship and mutual trust between Russia and China.”
According to a statement issued by Kremlin, Putin said Moscow fully supports Beijing’s “One China” rule and opposes “provocations” by the U.S. in the Taiwan Strait. He further added, he understood that China has “questions and concerns” about Ukraine, and that he would explain Moscow’s position.
Meetings with Central Asian leaders
Apart from the Xi-Putin meeting, the SCO summit is closely observed because it brings together other key leaders, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several more.
Prior to his meeting with Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in which they resolved to expand cooperation.
China and Uzbekistan leaders signed $15 billion worth of agreements related to various ventures and trade along with financial and technical cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.
During Xi’s stopover at Kazakhastan, he had meetings with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “No matter how the international situation changes, we will continue to resolutely support Kazakhstan in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Xi said during the meeting.