Authoritarian leaders Xi and Putin united, positioning China as a prospective world power standing in opposition.
In a significant diplomatic move, Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. The event, attended by political heavyweights from Asia and the Middle East, aimed to reaffirm China's global leadership and strengthen its partnership with Russia.
The summit, backed by both China and Russia, marked the first meeting between Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin since Putin's summit with former US President Donald Trump in Alaska earlier this month. Among the attendees were Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other influential leaders.
The SCO summit in 2021 is expected to be the largest yet, with 20 leaders from Asia and the Middle East in attendance. The countries participating included the member states: China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus, as well as observer states and dialogue partners such as Mongolia, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Maldives, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
Xi Jinping delivered an address at the two-day summit, pledging 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in grants to SCO member states this year. He also announced plans to set up a SCO Development Bank. The Chinese leader vowed to oppose "hegemonism," "Cold War mentality" and "bullying practices," without explicitly naming any specific country.
Footage from Russian state news agency RIA showed a more animated and relaxed demeanor from Xi Jinping during his conversation with Putin at the SCO summit. The two leaders were seen walking together shoulder to shoulder after a group photo, as shown in footage released by the Kremlin.
The SCO summit serves as a platform for closer ties between China and Russia, and Xi Jinping views the event as a critically timed diplomatic push. The summit aims to rebalance global power in favor of China and Russia, at the expense of the US and its allies. Moscow's forces conducted their second largest aerial attack on Ukraine just last week, further highlighting the geopolitical tensions at play.
The summit concluded with a renewed commitment from the participating countries to work together for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. The SCO, established in 2001, seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and promote political, economic, and security ties among its member states.
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