Putin, Xi meet at SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Monday. They are attending the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

More than a dozen other leaders are set to gather. The SCO has historically focused on economic issues. Yet Putin and Xi have used the platform to promote a multipolar world view. They often present a united front against the West.

The organisation's founding declaration states it is "not an alliance directed against other states." At last year's gathering, however, Putin accused Western countries of provoking the Ukraine war. Xi denounced "acts of intimidation," a reference to US-Chinese tensions.

Attendees and Partnerships

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are also expected in Bishkek. Turkey is not a member but is a dialogue partner. Pezeshkian is expected to hold bilateral talks with Putin during the event.

Iran joined the bloc in 2023. It maintains close military ties with Russia and energy links with China. The leaders of India and Pakistan, both full members, are also anticipated to attend.

The SCO has 10 permanent members. Another 15 states are connected as "dialogue partners," including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Global Context and Economic Tensions

The summit comes amid sharp economic criticism from the United States. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would encourage G20 members to re-examine trade terms with China. He denounced Beijing's $1.2 trillion global trade surplus as unsustainable.

Bessent made the remarks to the Reuters news agency on Sunday. He spoke ahead of a G20 finance leaders meeting in the United States. "The world cannot have a China with a US$1.2 trillion trade surplus," he said.

He argued China is trying to export its way out of a weak economy. Bessent also said he planned a bilateral meeting with People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng at the G20 conference. He declined to discuss details.

The SCO bloc itself claims a significant global footprint. It says it represents about 40 percent of the world's population. It also claims a quarter of global GDP. This year's summit marks 25 years since the SCO was founded.