Russia and China demonstrated strong relations at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Vladimir Poutine And Xi Jinpingarrived at the annual SCO summit, Shanghai Cooperation Organizationthis Wednesday in Astana at Kazakhstan.
This is the second time that Russian and Chinese leaders have met in two months. The last time was in Beijing in May.
While both countries are in open conflict with the West for multiple reasons, their partnership seems to be in good shape, as Vladimir Putin has made clear.
“Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction are currently experiencing the best period in their history. They are based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for each other’s sovereignty. Our cooperation is not directed against anyone. We do not create blocs or alliances, we simply act in the interests of our peoples.“, said Vladimir Putin.
Meetings with other SCO members
The Russian President held a parallel meeting with the leaders of some of the countries present at the summit (there are 9, 10 – with Belarus, which will become a full member country), including the Turkish President. Erdoganwho said that trade between his country and Russia would increase in the future.
“As you said, this volume of 55 billion dollars is not very important for us. Our objective was to reach 100 billion dollars. I think we can reach that 100 billion dollars.” announced Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Belarus new entrant
Besides China and Russia, the SCO member countries are India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran, the latest to join in 2021.
Belarus’ planned membership at the summit (the country has had observer status since 2015) will bring to ten the number of members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 2001 and which has recently gained momentum to counter Western influence.
Note the invitation to the summit by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres who has already met with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
António Guterres said he considered his visit as “a demonstration of the solidarity and support that the United Nations provides to Kazakhstan and its chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization“.
