Putin and Xi Jinping to Meet in Kazakhstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Kazakhstan for the second time in two months. The meeting will take place as part of the annual session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which was established in 2001 to address security concerns in Central Asia and beyond.

During their last meeting in May, Putin visited Beijing to underscore the strong partnership between Russia and China, which aims to counter the US-led democratic order and promote a more “multipolar” world. This upcoming meeting provides another opportunity for the two leaders to showcase their close ties amid rising tensions with the West.

Putin seeks to demonstrate that Russia is not isolated despite facing Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of personal responsibility for abductions in Ukraine. However, Kazakhstan, as a non-party to the Rome Statute, is not obligated to arrest him.

China has been a key diplomatic ally for Russia, offering support and serving as a major market for Russian oil and gas. The relationship between Putin and Xi highlights the strategic partnership between the two countries, with China also providing crucial high-tech imports to Russia for its military operations.

Xi Jinping aims to use the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to expand China’s influence, particularly in Central Asia and the Global South. He emphasizes the importance of fostering communication and promoting China as an alternative to the US and its allies.