President Xi meets counterparts ahead of SCO summit

Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Summit 2026, President Xi Jinping

sat down with his counterparts including Russia President Vladimir Putin,

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelskh and

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to discuss

bilaterial cooperation and regional development.

President Xi Jinping

met with various global leaders on the sidelines in the lead up to

the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Summit 2026 in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek.

Following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi says under

the strategic guidance of the two and through the joint efforts of both sides,

the foundation of China-Russia relations will become ever stronger,

their progress ever steadier, and their future ever brighter.

Putin says Russia is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with

China, strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, energy,

industry, transportation, and science and technology.

Also sitting down with Xi is Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh,

whom the Chinese leader refers to as close neighbours

connected by mountains and rivers.

Xi says his country is ready to work with Mongolia to foster

more areas of growth and advance hand-in-hand towards modernisation.

Khurelsukh says the two nations have always respected and trusted

each other, regardless of changes in the international situation.

Also in Bishkek is Uzbekistan leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev who says his

country is willing to work with China to deepen political mutual

trust and fight the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism.