The two leaders met in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security alliance created as a counterweight to US influence that also includes India, Pakistan and four former Soviet nations in Central Asia. Along with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the backdrop to the summit is the brief flare-up not far from the site of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as tensions in China’s relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India due to disputes over technology, security and territory. Speaking at the start of his one-on-one talks with Xi, Putin criticized what he described as an “ugly” effort by the United States and its allies to maintain global dominance. “Efforts to create a unipolar world have recently taken an absolutely ugly form. They are absolutely unacceptable for the vast majority of countries in the world,” the Russian president said in his opening speech. Xi was more circumspect, saying that together with Russia, China was ready to “set the example of a responsible world power and play a leading role in leading the rapidly changing world onto a path of sustainable and positive development.” The SCO summit in the ancient city of Samarkand is part of Xi’s first trip abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic 2 1/2 years ago, underscoring Beijing’s desire to assert itself as a regional power. The presidents’ meeting came after Russia was forced to withdraw its forces from large swathes of northeastern Ukraine last week amid a swift Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine’s regaining control of several Russian-held villages and towns represented Moscow’s biggest setback since its forces were forced to retreat from areas near the Ukrainian capital early in the war. Xi’s government, which said it had “boundless” friendship with Moscow before the invasion of Ukraine in late February, has refused to criticize Russia’s military actions. Beijing and India are buying more Russian oil and gas, helping Moscow offset the impact of Western sanctions imposed over the invasion. “We highly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in relation to the Ukrainian crisis,” Putin said at the start of his talks with Xi. Russia, in turn, has strongly backed China amid tensions with the US following a recent visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “We condemn the provocations by the US and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait,” Putin told Xi. Putin also met Thursday with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose country is on track to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Raisi said Moscow and Tehran were finalizing an important treaty that would bring their relations to a “strategic level”. Both he and Putin criticized the US at the start of their meeting. Raishi accused the US of violating its obligations under Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. Putin blasted US officials, saying “They are masters of their word – they give it and then take it back whenever they want.” The Russian leader also held meetings with Central Asian leaders and planned to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. There was no indication whether Modi would meet Xi. Relations between India and China have been strained by clashes between the countries’ militaries over a border dispute involving a remote Himalayan region. Putin is also scheduled to meet privately with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Turkey and Azerbaijan have the status of “dialogue partners” with the SCO. Earlier this week, Azerbaijan and Armenia engaged in cross-border shelling that killed 176 soldiers from both sides, marking the most serious hostilities in nearly two years between the rivals in decades. The fighting has left Moscow, which has tried to maintain close ties with both countries, in a precarious position. Putin’s meeting with Erdogan will be closely watched for their statements on Ukraine and the July agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN to clear the way for exports of grain and other agricultural products that had been stuck in Black ports Ukrainian Sea after the Russian invasion. The Chinese leader is promoting a “Global Security Initiative” announced in April after Washington, Japan, Australia and India formed the Quad in response to Beijing’s more assertive foreign policy. Xi gave few details, but US officials protest that he echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine. The region is part of China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative to expand trade by building ports, railways and other infrastructure across an arc of dozens of countries from the South Pacific to Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa . On Thursday, Xi met with Kyrgyz President Sadir Zaparov and said Beijing supports the “early operation” of a planned railway line linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. China’s economic incursions into Central Asia have fueled concern in Russia, which sees the region as its sphere of influence. Xi made a one-day visit on Wednesday to Kazakhstan en route to Uzbekistan. Pope Francis was in Kazakhstan, but they did not meet.
