Putin and Xi hail ‘stability’ of China-Russia partnership on SCO sidelines

The duo founded central Asian security summit as counterpoint to Western might and have strengthened ties since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have hailed their country’s “partnership” on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (CSO), a regional security bloc founded by the duo as a counterpoint to Western might.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, both Putin and Xi commended the grouping’s expanding membership, which includes the Central Asian countries, as well as India, Iran and member-in-waiting Belarus. They also continued to portray the China-Russia relationship as a stabilising force in chaotic times.

Putin said the SCO was “strengthening its role as one of the key pillars of a fair multipolar world order”. However, he maintained that the “cooperation is not aimed against anyone, we are not creating any blocs or alliances, we are just acting in the interests of our peoples.”

Speaking during televised remarks in advance of a bilateral meeting with Xi, the Russian leader quickly turned to the relationship between Moscow and Beijing. He said the two countries’ “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are experiencing their best period in history”.

In turn, Xi referenced the “turbulent international situation and external environment” and said Russia and China “should continue to uphold the original aspiration of friendship for generations to come”.

He went on to call Putin an “old friend” and said the countries had laid “plans and arrangements for the next development of bilateral relations”.

The meeting between the leaders – the second in two months – comes as both China and Russia