Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend security summit in Kazakhstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping joined other leaders at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday. The SCO, created in 2001, consists of China, Russia, and four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, with India, Pakistan, Iran, and now Belarus as members.

At the summit, Putin highlighted the SCO’s commitment to regional security and announced plans to establish a center to coordinate responses to security challenges. Xi emphasized the importance of unity in the face of global challenges.

Guests at the summit included leaders from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus, as well as India’s foreign minister and Iran’s acting president. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres was also in attendance.

Putin used the summit to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, suggesting a resolution based on Ukraine withdrawing troops from annexed regions and abandoning NATO aspirations. He also referenced proposals for peace settlement rejected by Ukraine and the West.

The summit also highlighted the strong alliance between Russia and China, with Putin describing their relationship as experiencing the best period in history. The SCO serves as a platform for China to extend its influence and promote itself as an alternative to Western powers.

For Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations, the summit is an opportunity to strengthen ties with larger neighbors. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised the SCO as a respected international organization.

Overall, the SCO summit provided a platform for leaders to address regional security challenges and showcase their alliances and partnerships in a changing geopolitical landscape.