Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin likely to meet on sidelines of SCO summit in Uzbekistan

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Russia's President Vlimir Putin on sidelines of forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Eurasian political, economic and security forum. He will travel to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this month, central Asian governments announced in a statement. “At invitation of he of state, a state visit of chairman of People’s Republic of China to Republic of Kazakhstan is planned for  September,” Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman Aybek Smiyarov said in an official communique.

China's Xi will travel to Uzbekistan

According to Republic of Kazakhstan, China's Xi will travel to Uzbekistan to attend forum that will be held in Samarkand on September 15 and 16. He is expected to meet with his ally Vlimir Putin to reaffirm Beijing's ties with Russia and pledge support during war with Ukraine. Chinese president's visit to countries of Central Asian region comes following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last month which escalated geopolitical tensions between two versaries.

summit will be first ever to be attended in person by Chinese leer Xi Jinping since start of novel coronavirus pandemic during which,  PRC hered to a strict zero-Covid policy. At this time, it remains unclear wher Xi will travel to Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan first during his Central Asian tour. Xi's visit comes just days ahe of his appointment as he of  Chinese Communist party and  Central Military Commission. His appointment at 20th party congress on October 16 will secure Xi Jinping  third term as president of China. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation forum along with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vlimir Putin. PM Modi attended  SCO Summit via video link last year on September 17, 2021, in Dushanbe. India's Prime Minister underscored issues caused by  growing ricalisation and extremism in broer SCO region, which runs counter to history of region as a bastion of moderate and progressive cultures and values. He iterated that  SCO could work on an agenda to promote moderation and scientific and rational thought, which would be especially relevant for youth of region. Furr, he noted India's experience of using digital technologies in its development programmes and offered to share se open-source solutions with or SCO members.