Chinese President Xi Jinping has lauded Beijing’s partnership with Russia as one of the “most stable, mature, and strategically significant” ties among global powers, just days before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1.

During a meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Xi described the China-Russia relationship as a “stable source of world peace.” He underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation to safeguard both nations’ security and development interests, strengthen the Global South, and promote multilateralism for a more balanced and just international order.

The upcoming summit will convene leaders from the SCO’s 10 member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Prime Minister Modi is also expected to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit. India has been an active participant in the SCO since becoming a full member in 2017, after serving as an observer since 2005.

Over the years, India has chaired key SCO councils and contributed significantly through delegations led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, reflecting its growing role in the organization’s agenda.