Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping characterized the current global landscape as turbulent, urging member states to strengthen cooperation in the face of evolving challenges He also expressed a desire to accelerate the establishment of a joint development bank for the organization
The SCO, founded in 2001, comprises China, Russia, Belarus, India, Iran, Pakistan and several Central Asian nations and aims to foster regional security and economic cooperation
The summit, held in Tianjin, saw displays of unity among China, Russia and India Russian President Vladimir Putin utilized the platform to outline his perspective on the conflict in Ukraine, attributing responsibility to Western actions China extended a formal welcome to President Putin, including a planned bilateral meeting with President Xi in Beijing
India, which has maintained a formally neutral stance regarding the war in Ukraine, signaled a renewed alignment with China during the summit Despite ongoing disagreements, such as the Himalayan border dispute, both countries emphasized their commitment to collaboration Notably, India has recently become the second-largest purchaser of Russian oil, a development that has drawn scrutiny and potential trade repercussions from the United States, with concerns raised about potential tariffs