China's foreign policy

Putin and Xi in talks about cooperation: "New opportunities"

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as they got the chance at the international summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, writes TT.

Xi praised the countries' cooperation and said he saw an even brighter future. Among the areas in which the countries are cooperating are AI and digital innovation.

Putin, for his part, stated that the cooperation continues and is successful "on all fronts".

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country has become increasingly dependent on China, whereupon the West has tried to influence China to pressure Russia. On Monday, Putin also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he is also expected to hold a private conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the days.

 
Experts: China wants to make Asia a united front

Several separate meetings are expected between international powers when the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit takes place in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek for two days. The agenda includes the energy situation, financial markets and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, writes the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Analysts also expect US policy under Donald Trump to be discussed.

- China can use this year's summit to position itself as a major power that wants to reach peaceful solutions to conflicts, and thus contrast itself with the United States, William Yang, an analyst at the think tank International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera.

Li Lifan at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences says the meeting is particularly important for China.

- By deepening engagement and cooperating with Central Asian partners, China wants to build a common foundation for a united front, he told SCMP.