Russian and Chinese Leaders to Convene at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this week, where leaders from Russia, China, and other member states will gather to discuss regional and global issues. The SCO, while officially not an anti-Western alliance, has become a platform for Russian and Chinese leaders to promote their vision of a multipolar world order and to counter Western influence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to lead the discussions, along with more than a dozen other leaders from across the region. The summit, taking place in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's founding.

Historically focused on economic cooperation, the SCO has expanded its scope in recent years, becoming a platform for political dialogue and security issues. President Putin and President Xi have used the summit as an opportunity to present a united front against the West, challenging the prevailing unipolar global order.

Despite the SCO's founding declaration stating that it is "not an alliance directed against other states," last year's summit saw Putin accusing Western countries of provoking the Ukraine war, while Xi condemned "acts of intimidation," a veiled reference to tensions between the United States and China.

The summit is set to draw representatives from a range of countries, including Iran, Turkey, and India and Pakistan, all of which are full members of the SCO. Iran, which joined the bloc in 2023, maintains close military ties with Russia and energy links with China. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although Turkey is not an SCO member, is also expected to attend and engage in bilateral talks with Putin.

In addition to the 10 permanent members of the SCO, another 15 states, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are connected as "dialogue partners." The SCO claims to represent about 40 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of global GDP.

The summit comes at a time of increasing tensions between the United States and China, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently calling for G20 members to re-examine trade terms with China. Bessent criticized Beijing's $1.2 trillion global trade surplus, calling it unsustainable.

"The world cannot have a China with a US$1.2 trillion trade surplus," Bessent told Reuters, adding that China's economy is weak and needs to rebalance.

Bessent also mentioned plans to hold a bilateral meeting with People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng during the upcoming G20 finance leaders meeting in the United States, though he did not provide details.

The SCO summit is expected to provide a platform for leaders to discuss a range of issues, including economic cooperation, security concerns, and the evolving global political landscape. As the organization celebrates its 25th anniversary, the summit will likely serve as a reminder of the SCO's growing significance in international relations.

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov has already welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in Bishkek, setting the stage for the summit's discussions. As leaders from across the region converge on the Kyrgyz capital, the summit is poised to become a focal point for geopolitical discussions and strategic partnerships in the years to come.