Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin on Sunday to participate in the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Global Times reported, citing CCTV News.
This is Putin’s second visit to China in less than a year, following his state visit in May 2024. Russia, a founding member of the SCO, has maintained close engagement with China under the framework of the organisation.
Putin is leading a “large and significant” delegation comprising three deputy prime ministers, over 10 ministers, and senior representatives of major Russian enterprises. After his engagements in Tianjin, he will travel to Beijing to attend a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The SCO Summit, scheduled for August 31 and September 1, will bring together more than 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the “SCO Plus” session, where he is expected to deliver keynote speeches.
According to China Daily, this year’s summit will focus on strengthening security cooperation, improving financial mechanisms, and reinforcing multilateralism, with an emphasis on amplifying the voice of Global South nations. It will also be the largest SCO summit hosted by China since the organisation’s inception.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted in People’s Daily that since assuming the rotating presidency in July 2024, China has organised 110 important SCO events, paving the way for what he called “a great event of friendship, solidarity, and fruitful outcomes.”
