Putin arrives in China for SCO summit and Victory Day celebrations (VIDEO)

The Russian president is set to meet the Chinese, Indian and other world leaders during a packed four-day visit

President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Tianjin at the start of a four-day official visit to China, where he will take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and attend commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

The Russian leader’s Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft touched down on Sunday morning in the northern Chinese city, where President Xi Jinping is hosting the SCO gathering.

The summit, which runs through September 1, is expected to focus on strengthening regional security, expanding economic cooperation, and deepening cultural and humanitarian ties among member states. Leaders will also discuss transport, energy, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and green development. A final declaration and a long-term strategy through 2035 are due to be adopted.

Putin will later travel to Beijing for bilateral talks with Xi on September 2. The discussions are expected to cover economic cooperation, international security, and regional issues, with particular attention to the conflict in Ukraine and relations with the United States. On September 3, the he will attend large-scale Victory Day commemorations in the Chinese capital.

During the visit, Putin is also scheduled to hold around ten bilateral meetings with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

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