Strategic Meeting at the SCO Summit: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Strengthen Regional Cooperation

On July 3, 2024, a meeting took place between President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This encounter occurred within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. Currently, it consists of nine member states: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It also has three observer states in the process of accession: Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia. Lastly, the eight "Dialogue Partners" of the SCO include Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.

The SCO has played a significant role in regional security issues, combating terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism (Saíz, 2009). The organization has also been an observer at the United Nations General Assembly since 2005. In April 2010, the United Nations Secretariat and the SCO Secretariat signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation.

On July 3, the SCO summit began in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. At this event, member countries reaffirmed their stance on strategic cooperation in security and sovereignty against Western influences. Thus, they reinforced their commitment to increase regional influence, avoiding American hegemonic dependence (Infobae, 2024). Therefore, one of the agenda points was to transform Central Asia into a trading power of energy resources, due to its geographical connection with Europe and Asia.

President Xi Jinping urged members to work for the security and development of nations together. He also emphasized the importance of the SCO in defending principles such as justice and equity in the Eurasian region. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin highlighted that Belarus's accession to the SCO is positive for consolidating the influence of this Eurasian cooperation bloc (El Comercio, 2024). The Russian leader also celebrated the existence of a new multipolar world order, as well as the rise of new centers of power. Despite internal disputes in some countries, SCO members share common purposes in terms of security and national sovereignty. The organization's next meeting is scheduled for October in Pakistan. The agenda for this meeting is also focused on security and regional cooperation in the face of local and global challenges (Infobae, 2024).

What was agreed upon in the meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin?

The Chinese leader emphasized the importance of maintaining development strategies and international coordination with Moscow. According to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2024), Xi Jinping agreed to support Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities during its current presidency in BRICS, as well as in unifying the Global South, preventing a war with the West, and rejecting commercial sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude for the reception he received in Beijing in May, considering that relations with China are at their highest historical levels. Both leaders also committed to safeguarding core interests and legitimate rights and interests, opposing foreign interventions in internal affairs of both nations such as the dispute over the South China Sea.

Following this summit, China will assume the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Therefore, Russia pledged to fully support Chinese efforts and will work with member states to increase the organization's international influence, defend regional peace and security, and steer the international system towards a fairer and more reasonable direction. Additionally, as the current rotating chair of BRICS, Russia aims to strengthen communication and coordination with China on BRICS cooperation.

What are the insights from the meeting between China and Russia's leaders?

Putin and Xi Jinping reaffirmed their strategic alliance aimed at countering Western hegemony, especially from the United States. Both leaders advocated for maintaining a favorable stance towards a multipolar world. This narrative seeks to strengthen the SCO's position as a regional bloc that could progressively increase its influence in the Eurasian region. Therefore, the summit focused on energy production development, as well as security and protection of territorial sovereignty.

This alliance between Beijing and Moscow aims to prevent political and economic deterioration in both countries. Thus, Russia can mitigate the effects of the war against Ukraine and commercial restrictions on Russia by the US and NATO countries. Meanwhile, China maintains an ally to avoid negative impacts from the Taiwan conflict and disputes in the South China Sea; as well as the trade war with the US, which could intensify with a possible victory of Donald J. Trump in the US elections in November.

In this geopolitical context, the meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping highlights the complexity of power dynamics in the international system. Alliances and agreements within the SCO have an impact on regional security and the balance of global power and international relations. Therefore, the narrative of a multipolar world and rejection of Western influence gains strength.