Putin and Xi reaffirm strategic partnership at SCO summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed the strength of their strategic partnership, saying closer cooperation between Beijing and Moscow remains important as global tensions and uncertainty continue to rise.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday - their first face-to-face meeting since May.

Xi welcomed the opportunity to meet Putin again and said relations between China and Russia had become increasingly resilient.

He said the partnership should continue to deepen despite what he described as growing "uncertainty and unpredictability" in the international system.

Xi also said the outlook for bilateral relations remained positive, pointing to what he called "even brighter" prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

Putin echoed those comments, saying cooperation between Moscow and Beijing was progressing successfully across a broad range of areas.

The meeting comes as Russia enters its fifth year of war in Ukraine and amid wider geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Iran and other major powers.

Ukraine war casts shadow over summit

The two-day SCO gathering in the Kyrgyz capital brings together more than a dozen national leaders for discussions marking the 25th anniversary of the regional organisation.

Among those attending are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is participating as a dialogue partner.

The summit is taking place against the backdrop of Russia's prolonged war in Ukraine and the continuing conflict between the United States and Iran.

Putin and Xi have frequently used SCO meetings to demonstrate close ties and promote their shared vision of a more multipolar international system, challenging what they see as Western dominance of global affairs.

Russia's growing economic reliance on China has become increasingly significant since Western governments imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Western nations have repeatedly urged Beijing to use its influence with the Kremlin to help bring the war to an end. China, however, has consistently rejected accusations that it is providing Russia with material support for the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Putin-Xi discussions focused primarily on economic and bilateral relations, with the Ukraine conflict discussed only briefly.

Putin also held talks with Modi, with the two leaders arriving together in the same vehicle for their scheduled meeting.

Modi said India remained prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Putin said Moscow was continuing along a path towards resolving the conflict, but offered no details about possible progress.

US-brokered peace negotiations remain stalled, although reports last week suggested that CIA Director John Ratcliffe had travelled to Moscow for discussions with Russian officials. The Kremlin denied reports that formal talks with US envoys were being planned.

Russia and Iran deepen cooperation

Putin is also expected to meet Iranian President Pezeshkian during the summit.

Russia and Iran, both subject to extensive Western sanctions, have strengthened their military and economic relationship since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Iran has supplied drones that Russia has used during the conflict, while Moscow and Tehran have expanded cooperation in a number of other areas.

US President Donald Trump has warned both Russia and China against providing military assistance to Iran.

US media reports have suggested that Ratcliffe's reported discussions in Moscow may also have included a warning to Russian officials against supplying weapons to Tehran.

Pezeshkian, speaking in Bishkek following renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, said Tehran did not believe prolonging the conflict served its interests.

He told Modi that Iran continued to seek dialogue and an eventual agreement, arguing that a continued war would benefit neither Iran nor the wider region.

Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian, Modi and Sharif are scheduled to participate in a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

The SCO now comprises 10 full members and 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.

The organisation says its members and partners collectively represent around 40 percent of the world's population and approximately a quarter of global economic output.

Despite its growing international influence, however, the group remains a diverse coalition whose members have differing interests and, at times, significant disagreements.