China’s President Xi Jinping has formally invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which will take place from August 31 to September 1, in an attempt to demonstrate "Global South" solidarity.
Apart from Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China for the first time in over seven years, along with other leaders from Central and Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Additionally, Putin is expected to remain in Beijing for a World War II military parade that will take place during the same week.
Some analysts suggest the summit serves as a geopolitical power play, aimed at projecting solidarity among Global South countries in their shared opposition to US influence.
Indeed, Russia and China have grown closer, forming a de facto alliance driven by shared opposition to US dominance. Their economic, military, and political ties have deepened, especially after Russia’s 2014 Crimea annexation, and further strengthened following the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
The personal rapport between Putin and Xi, their authoritarian governance style, and mutual interests in challenging the US-led global order underpin this partnership.
Despite some Chinese reservations about Russia’s war, their cooperation worries democratic nations concerned about global power shifts.
Click on to learn more about their relationship.