Serbian President Vucic sets off to China for discussions with Xi and Putin - Serbian President Vucic set for meetings with Xi and Putin
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit took place in China this week, with delegations from around 20 countries in attendance. The three-day event culminated in a grand military parade in the Chinese capital, which was attended by leaders such as Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim Jong-un.
Besides China, Russia, and North Korea, Serbia also participated in the parade. Serbian President Vucic has maintained traditionally good relations with Russia and shares a hostile stance towards NATO with Xi and Putin. This year, Vucic also attended the Moscow military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The SCO includes China, Belarus, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and four Central Asian states. China and Russia use the organization to strengthen their relations with Central Asian states and establish a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO. Iran and North Korea are among the countries attending the summit.
Anti-corruption protests against Vucic's government have been ongoing in Serbia for ten months. Despite this, Serbia continues to receive economic and political support from China, even amidst extensive international sanctions against North Korea. Vucic has thanked Russia for its support against an "out-of-control revolution" orchestrated from abroad. A significant portion of Serbia's natural gas imports comes from Russia.
Serbia does not support the European sanctions against Moscow. Vucic has met with Putin several times since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has 16 other countries as observers or "dialogue partners."
During the summit, Xi Jinping used the opportunity to criticize the current world order. The exact details of the discussions and agreements made during the summit remain unclear, but it is clear that the SCO continues to be a significant platform for international cooperation and diplomacy.
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