Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced&nbsp;position”&nbsp;on&nbsp;the Ukraine&nbsp;crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation&nbsp;Organisation&nbsp;(SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. This was the first meeting between the two world readers since Russia begin their military operations in Ukraine in February earlier this year.&nbsp;

"We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis. We understand your questions and concern about this. During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position," Putin told XI in the opening remarks of their bilateral meeting in Samarkand.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco-summit-live-updates-515964" hreflang="en">SCO Summit LIVE Updates</a>

China has not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine till now and in all major votes, it has either refrained from voting or has casted its vote in Russia's&nbsp;favour.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the United States and other western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, China has continued their trade relations.&nbsp;

Russia also supported China's claim&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;Taiwan and said that the United States is looking to disrupt the peace in the region. There was massive uproar in China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and Beijing responded by conducting military drills on the Taiwan Strait.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/six-countries-not-invited-for-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral-see-complete-list-516447" hreflang="en">Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list</a>

"We intend to firmly adhere to the principle of 'One China'," Putin said after the meeting. We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait," he said.&nbsp;

Putin also held bilateral meetings&nbsp;with Iranian&nbsp;President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov and Kyrgyz President&nbsp;Sadyr&nbsp;Japarov.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced position” on the Ukraine crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced position” on the Ukraine crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. This was the first meeting between the two world readers since Russia begin their military operations in Ukraine in February earlier this year. "We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis. We understand your questions and concern about this. During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position," Putin told XI in the opening remarks of their bilateral meeting in Samarkand. Also read | SCO Summit LIVE Updates China has not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine till now and in all major votes, it has either refrained from voting or has casted its vote in Russia's favour. While the United States and other western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, China has continued their trade relations. Russia also supported China's claim regarding Taiwan and said that the United States is looking to disrupt the peace in the region. There was massive uproar in China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and Beijing responded by conducting military drills on the Taiwan Strait. Also read | Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list "We intend to firmly adhere to the principle of 'One China'," Putin said after the meeting. We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait," he said. Putin also held bilateral meetings with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

SCO Summit 2022: Vladimir Putin praises China's Xi Jinping for 'balanced position' on Ukraine

China's President Xi Jinping was in ex-Soviet nation Kazakhstan on Wednesday on his first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, ahead of a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

Their highly-anticipated meeting comes as Russia suffers serious setbacks in Ukraine, but China has stood firm in its support of Putin and their "no limits" friendship.&nbsp;

During a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi vowed full support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty at a time when the ex-Soviet Central Asian region has been spooked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

"No matter how the international situation changes, we will continue to resolutely support Kazakhstan in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said, according to a Kazakh government statement.&nbsp;

"Beijing firmly supports the reform measures President (Tokayev) has taken to maintain national stability and development, and firmly opposes any forces that interfere in Kazakhstan's internal affairs," Xi said.&nbsp;

Tokayev hailed Xi's visit as a reunion of "historic importance", saying the Chinese leader's decision to visit Nur-Sultan first since the start of the pandemic was a sign of "high-level... mutual trust and cooperation". &nbsp;

The ex-Soviet Central Asian region, which Russia sees as in its sphere of influence, is key to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a trillion-dollar push to improve trade links across the globe by building landmark infrastructure.&nbsp;

Tokayev said Beijing and Nur-Sultan had "set an example" for cooperation within the huge BRI initiative and praised prospects for further cooperation.&nbsp;

Xi, during his three-day visit to Central Asia, is scheduled to attend a summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders in Uzbekistan, where he is expected to meet with Putin.&nbsp;

'Mutual respect, fairness'&nbsp;

The SCO was established in 2001 as a political, economic and security organisation to rival Western institutions and the summit will bring together Xi, Putin, Tokayev, leaders from India, Pakistan and three more ex-Soviet Central Asian countries.&nbsp;

Xi wrote ahead of the visit that the group had "set a fine example of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and proved itself an important and constructive force".&nbsp;

Those were comments echoed by the Kremlin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov who told reporters in Moscow that the SCO members "stand for a just world order".&nbsp;

"The SCO offers a real alternative to Western-centric organisations," he added.&nbsp;

Ushakov said that among Putin's meeting in Samarkand this week, his talks with Xi would be "of particular importance", focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's growing economic ties with China.&nbsp;

Xi, in an article for Chinese state media ahead of the trip, said Beijing was prepared to work with Kazakhstan to "deepen cooperation in law enforcement, security and defence".&nbsp;

He said also China wanted to work with Kazakhstan on drug trafficking and transnational organised crime as well as what China calls the "three evils".&nbsp;

China's government has previously used the term -- referring to terrorism, separatism and religious extremism -- to talk about its crackdown Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

Beijing stands accused of detaining over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, including some Kazakhs, under a years-long security campaign that the United States and some lawmakers in other Western countries have labelled a "genocide".&nbsp;

China vociferously denies the allegations, saying its actions are aimed at combating terrorism.&nbsp;

In a separate article for Uzbek media, Xi pledged to "strengthen security cooperation and resolve risks and challenges" and said Uzbekistan had a "unique role to play in resolving the Afghanistan issue", CCTV reported.&nbsp;

"The two sides must take a clear stand against any forces undermining the regional security situation," CCTV reported Xi as writing.

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China's President Xi Jinping was in ex-Soviet nation Kazakhstan on Wednesday on his first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, ahead of a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

China's President Xi Jinping was in ex-Soviet nation Kazakhstan on Wednesday on his first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, ahead of a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Their highly-anticipated meeting comes as Russia suffers serious setbacks in Ukraine, but China has stood firm in its support of Putin and their "no limits" friendship. During a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi vowed full support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty at a time when the ex-Soviet Central Asian region has been spooked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "No matter how the international situation changes, we will continue to resolutely support Kazakhstan in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said, according to a Kazakh government statement. "Beijing firmly supports the reform measures President (Tokayev) has taken to maintain national stability and development, and firmly opposes any forces that interfere in Kazakhstan's internal affairs," Xi said. Tokayev hailed Xi's visit as a reunion of "historic importance", saying the Chinese leader's decision to visit Nur-Sultan first since the start of the pandemic was a sign of "high-level... mutual trust and cooperation".  The ex-Soviet Central Asian region, which Russia sees as in its sphere of influence, is key to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a trillion-dollar push to improve trade links across the globe by building landmark infrastructure. Tokayev said Beijing and Nur-Sultan had "set an example" for cooperation within the huge BRI initiative and praised prospects for further cooperation. Xi, during his three-day visit to Central Asia, is scheduled to attend a summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders in Uzbekistan, where he is expected to meet with Putin. 'Mutual respect, fairness' The SCO was established in 2001 as a political, economic and security organisation to rival Western institutions and the summit will bring together Xi, Putin, Tokayev, leaders from India, Pakistan and three more ex-Soviet Central Asian countries. Xi wrote ahead of the visit that the group had "set a fine example of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and proved itself an important and constructive force". Those were comments echoed by the Kremlin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov who told reporters in Moscow that the SCO members "stand for a just world order". "The SCO offers a real alternative to Western-centric organisations," he added. Ushakov said that among Putin's meeting in Samarkand this week, his talks with Xi would be "of particular importance", focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's growing economic ties with China. Xi, in an article for Chinese state media ahead of the trip, said Beijing was prepared to work with Kazakhstan to "deepen cooperation in law enforcement, security and defence". He said also China wanted to work with Kazakhstan on drug trafficking and transnational organised crime as well as what China calls the "three evils". China's government has previously used the term -- referring to terrorism, separatism and religious extremism -- to talk about its crackdown Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan. Beijing stands accused of detaining over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, including some Kazakhs, under a years-long security campaign that the United States and some lawmakers in other Western countries have labelled a "genocide". China vociferously denies the allegations, saying its actions are aimed at combating terrorism. In a separate article for Uzbek media, Xi pledged to "strengthen security cooperation and resolve risks and challenges" and said Uzbekistan had a "unique role to play in resolving the Afghanistan issue", CCTV reported. "The two sides must take a clear stand against any forces undermining the regional security situation," CCTV reported Xi as writing. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Xi vows full backing to Kazakhstan for its sovereignty amid Russia's Ukraine invasion

China Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin are all set to meet this week. They will discuss the war in Ukraine and other international and regional topics. As the two leaders gather in Uzbekistan at the meeting of the Shanghai Corporation Organization, this is Xi Jinping's first overseas trip since the start of the pandemic and comes as he seeks a historic third term.

Kremlin: Xi-Putin to showcase alternative to the west, Ukraine war and regional issues on agenda

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Central Asia this week on his first trip out of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, attending the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Central Asia on first post-pandemic foreign trip

The summit this week between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China is a show of force by two autocratic leaders united against what they consider American hegemony. It is also a moment of mutual weakness as Russia suffers losses in Ukraine and China endures an economic slowdown.

They come to the meeting, expected to take place later this week in Uzbekistan, with their own agendas and their own challenges that will test an important relationship both have described as a friendship with “no limits.”

Moscow needs Beijing. Russia’s recent routs on the battlefields of Ukraine, coupled with the broad damage inflicted by Western sanctions, have made Chinese support all the more important. China has emerged as a major buyer of Russian commodities, purchases that have helped replenish Moscow’s coffers.

Beijing, though, remains cautious. It wants to project strength in the increasingly acrimonious competition with the United States and can’t afford for its main partner in an authoritarian alliance to face a humiliating defeat. But providing substantial, additional help to Russia, either economically or militarily, risks running afoul of Western sanctions and imperiling China’s economy.

“Xi’s China has been carrying out an exquisite tightrope walk with regard to Russia,” said Rana Mitter, a professor of history and politics at Oxford University. “It is keen to show support for Russia in general, but finds active support for an invasion too politically embarrassing to contemplate and wants Moscow to resolve matters one way or another.”

Image matters for Xi as he prepares to secure a third term at a pivotal Communist Party congress in Beijing next month. His trip this week, during which he will attend a regional summit in Uzbekistan and visit Kazakhstan, marks the first time Xi has traveled abroad since the start of the pandemic and signals just how much he values the relationship. The meeting with Putin will give the Chinese leader a chance to look like a global statesman, playing well to a home audience.

Russia also provides much-needed backing for China’s agenda. When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last month in defiance of China’s claims to the self-ruled democracy, the Kremlin was quick to support Beijing’s stance, describing the trip as “provocative” and pledging “absolute solidarity with China.”

But China has tied itself to a war that has so far backfired for Russia. Any serious weakening of Putin’s dominance in Russia could hurt Beijing’s position at a time when the leadership is dealing with the political and economic fallout from its strict COVID-19 policies.

The question confronting China is whether to double down or let Russia navigate the setbacks on its own. Both strategies carry risks, and most experts expect China to choose a middle path of continued economic support without openly circumventing sanctions or providing outright military assistance.

China, which has avoided describing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, appears to be tempering its bets. When Xi’s second-highest-ranking deputy, Li Zhanshu, met with Putin in Russia last week, Chinese state media emphasized the two countries’ shared admiration but steered clear of overt advocacy for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Li has told Putin that, “political mutual trust, strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries have reached an unprecedented level.”

Xinhua made no mention of Ukraine, even as Russian state media claimed Beijing backed the invasion, portraying Li as having said that China “understands and supports Russia” particularly “on the situation in Ukraine.”

“China keeps avoiding military involvement in any degree in Russia’s war and will continue to do so, especially when the Russians have been in a drastic failure situation in the field,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. “China’s diplomatic and political support or sympathy will not really help them, though dramatic purchases of their energy since April help a little non-militarily.”

Putin, who describes his war as part of a battle against nefarious Western powers that threaten Russia’s very existence, appears to find China’s middle ground vexing. He suggested as much last week in describing the long-running negotiations for a new pipeline that could allow Russia to export more Siberian natural gas to China rather than Europe — a matter of critical importance to Moscow as Europe rushes to reduce energy imports from Russia.

“Our Chinese friends are tough bargainers,” Putin said at a conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok focused on increasing economic ties with Asia. “Naturally, they proceed from their national interests in any deal, which is the only way to go.”

Putin will go into the meeting with Xi looking to China as a lifeline at perhaps Russia’s most tenuous moment since the invasion began in February. Russian forces have recently lost more than 1,000 square miles of territory in Ukraine, creating new political headwinds for Putin — even from some of his longtime supporters, now frustrated by Russia’s bumbling war effort.

At this week’s meeting, Putin hopes to close a deal for the natural gas pipeline. Russia also needs access to China’s high-tech exports and Chinese currency to pay for those goods, since Russia’s access to dollars is severely restricted.

“China has more leverage than Russia,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

As Western countries shun Moscow, it is the expanding ties with China that Putin points to most as proof that Russia cannot be isolated. It is a relationship to which Putin has devoted enormous effort, one that accelerated after relations with the West took a dive following Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014.

The honor of meeting Xi in person is sure to be extolled by Russia’s state media as evidence of Putin’s continued acumen on the world stage. “Our relations have reached unprecedented heights,” Putin said at the Vladivostok conference.

The century-old relationship between the two nations is steeped in ideology and history. Moscow was crucial to the Chinese Communist Party’s founding, early survival and eventual victory in 1949 in China’s Civil War. Relatively close relations have continued, although they were interrupted by a rift in the 1960s so serious that the two countries fought border skirmishes.

Xi has a long-standing connection to Russia and Putin, whom he has met with 38 times. The Chinese leader’s father, Xi Zhongxun, a leading party figure in the 1950s, oversaw Soviet experts who came to China to help build the country’s heavy industry after the civil war, said Joseph Torigian, the author of an upcoming biography on the elder Xi.

Xi’s father visited Moscow, full of admiration. “He brought back mementos from Russia,” Torigian said, “that Xi Jinping later recalled.”

A week after he became China’s president in March 2013, Xi chose Russia for his first trip abroad and hinted in a speech there that the two countries would work together against the West.

“Currently, China and Russia are both in important periods of national revival, and bilateral relations have entered a new stage,” Xi said.

China now has the upper hand in the relationship, given its economic and military might. China’s economy was 10 times the size of Russia’s last year, before the war in Ukraine. From May through July, China bought record amounts of Russian oil at a deep discount and imported more Russian natural gas and coal.

Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, announced last week that China’s payments for gas from one pipeline would no longer be made in dollars or euros, but in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan. Such deals make it easier for Russia to bypass Western banks and buy Chinese goods that are similar to high-tech Western products under export restrictions.

While China has sold many cars and other products that do not use Western technology to Russia, it appears to have avoided the riskier activity of reselling advanced Western technology. China appears to have refrained so far this year from shipping weapons to Russia, forcing Moscow to ask Iran and North Korea for military equipment.

China’s military has a long history of training with its Russian counterparts. Last week, China sent more than 2,000 People’s Liberation Army soldiers, 21 combat aircraft and three warships to participate in joint military exercises in eastern Russia.

It was the first time that China had sent air, land and naval forces to participate in the major military exercise, which Putin personally oversaw.

But Xi is unlikely to tie his country more closely to Russia than he did in February, when he declared the limitless friendship.

“I don’t really expect any sort of new statement to be made by Xi Jinping that would be perceived as more strategic support for Russia,” said Li Mingjiang, a specialist in China’s international relations at the National University of Singapore, “nor would I expect China to walk back from what has been said.”

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The summit this week between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China is a show of force by two autocratic leaders united against what they consider American hegemony.

The summit this week between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China is a show of force by two autocratic leaders united against what they consider American hegemony. It is also a moment of mutual weakness as Russia suffers losses in Ukraine and China endures an economic slowdown. They come to the meeting, expected to take place later this week in Uzbekistan, with their own agendas and their own challenges that will test an important relationship both have described as a friendship with “no limits.” Moscow needs Beijing. Russia’s recent routs on the battlefields of Ukraine, coupled with the broad damage inflicted by Western sanctions, have made Chinese support all the more important. China has emerged as a major buyer of Russian commodities, purchases that have helped replenish Moscow’s coffers. Beijing, though, remains cautious. It wants to project strength in the increasingly acrimonious competition with the United States and can’t afford for its main partner in an authoritarian alliance to face a humiliating defeat. But providing substantial, additional help to Russia, either economically or militarily, risks running afoul of Western sanctions and imperiling China’s economy. “Xi’s China has been carrying out an exquisite tightrope walk with regard to Russia,” said Rana Mitter, a professor of history and politics at Oxford University. “It is keen to show support for Russia in general, but finds active support for an invasion too politically embarrassing to contemplate and wants Moscow to resolve matters one way or another.” Image matters for Xi as he prepares to secure a third term at a pivotal Communist Party congress in Beijing next month. His trip this week, during which he will attend a regional summit in Uzbekistan and visit Kazakhstan, marks the first time Xi has traveled abroad since the start of the pandemic and signals just how much he values the relationship. The meeting with Putin will give the Chinese leader a chance to look like a global statesman, playing well to a home audience. Russia also provides much-needed backing for China’s agenda. When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last month in defiance of China’s claims to the self-ruled democracy, the Kremlin was quick to support Beijing’s stance, describing the trip as “provocative” and pledging “absolute solidarity with China.” But China has tied itself to a war that has so far backfired for Russia. Any serious weakening of Putin’s dominance in Russia could hurt Beijing’s position at a time when the leadership is dealing with the political and economic fallout from its strict COVID-19 policies. The question confronting China is whether to double down or let Russia navigate the setbacks on its own. Both strategies carry risks, and most experts expect China to choose a middle path of continued economic support without openly circumventing sanctions or providing outright military assistance. China, which has avoided describing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, appears to be tempering its bets. When Xi’s second-highest-ranking deputy, Li Zhanshu, met with Putin in Russia last week, Chinese state media emphasized the two countries’ shared admiration but steered clear of overt advocacy for Russia’s actions in Ukraine. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Li has told Putin that, “political mutual trust, strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries have reached an unprecedented level.” Xinhua made no mention of Ukraine, even as Russian state media claimed Beijing backed the invasion, portraying Li as having said that China “understands and supports Russia” particularly “on the situation in Ukraine.” “China keeps avoiding military involvement in any degree in Russia’s war and will continue to do so, especially when the Russians have been in a drastic failure situation in the field,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. “China’s diplomatic and political support or sympathy will not really help them, though dramatic purchases of their energy since April help a little non-militarily.” Putin, who describes his war as part of a battle against nefarious Western powers that threaten Russia’s very existence, appears to find China’s middle ground vexing. He suggested as much last week in describing the long-running negotiations for a new pipeline that could allow Russia to export more Siberian natural gas to China rather than Europe — a matter of critical importance to Moscow as Europe rushes to reduce energy imports from Russia. “Our Chinese friends are tough bargainers,” Putin said at a conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok focused on increasing economic ties with Asia. “Naturally, they proceed from their national interests in any deal, which is the only way to go.” Putin will go into the meeting with Xi looking to China as a lifeline at perhaps Russia’s most tenuous moment since the invasion began in February. Russian forces have recently lost more than 1,000 square miles of territory in Ukraine, creating new political headwinds for Putin — even from some of his longtime supporters, now frustrated by Russia’s bumbling war effort. At this week’s meeting, Putin hopes to close a deal for the natural gas pipeline. Russia also needs access to China’s high-tech exports and Chinese currency to pay for those goods, since Russia’s access to dollars is severely restricted. “China has more leverage than Russia,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. As Western countries shun Moscow, it is the expanding ties with China that Putin points to most as proof that Russia cannot be isolated. It is a relationship to which Putin has devoted enormous effort, one that accelerated after relations with the West took a dive following Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. The honor of meeting Xi in person is sure to be extolled by Russia’s state media as evidence of Putin’s continued acumen on the world stage. “Our relations have reached unprecedented heights,” Putin said at the Vladivostok conference. The century-old relationship between the two nations is steeped in ideology and history. Moscow was crucial to the Chinese Communist Party’s founding, early survival and eventual victory in 1949 in China’s Civil War. Relatively close relations have continued, although they were interrupted by a rift in the 1960s so serious that the two countries fought border skirmishes. Xi has a long-standing connection to Russia and Putin, whom he has met with 38 times. The Chinese leader’s father, Xi Zhongxun, a leading party figure in the 1950s, oversaw Soviet experts who came to China to help build the country’s heavy industry after the civil war, said Joseph Torigian, the author of an upcoming biography on the elder Xi. Xi’s father visited Moscow, full of admiration. “He brought back mementos from Russia,” Torigian said, “that Xi Jinping later recalled.” A week after he became China’s president in March 2013, Xi chose Russia for his first trip abroad and hinted in a speech there that the two countries would work together against the West. “Currently, China and Russia are both in important periods of national revival, and bilateral relations have entered a new stage,” Xi said. China now has the upper hand in the relationship, given its economic and military might. China’s economy was 10 times the size of Russia’s last year, before the war in Ukraine. From May through July, China bought record amounts of Russian oil at a deep discount and imported more Russian natural gas and coal. Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, announced last week that China’s payments for gas from one pipeline would no longer be made in dollars or euros, but in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan. Such deals make it easier for Russia to bypass Western banks and buy Chinese goods that are similar to high-tech Western products under export restrictions. While China has sold many cars and other products that do not use Western technology to Russia, it appears to have avoided the riskier activity of reselling advanced Western technology. China appears to have refrained so far this year from shipping weapons to Russia, forcing Moscow to ask Iran and North Korea for military equipment. China’s military has a long history of training with its Russian counterparts. Last week, China sent more than 2,000 People’s Liberation Army soldiers, 21 combat aircraft and three warships to participate in joint military exercises in eastern Russia. It was the first time that China had sent air, land and naval forces to participate in the major military exercise, which Putin personally oversaw. But Xi is unlikely to tie his country more closely to Russia than he did in February, when he declared the limitless friendship. “I don’t really expect any sort of new statement to be made by Xi Jinping that would be perceived as more strategic support for Russia,” said Li Mingjiang, a specialist in China’s international relations at the National University of Singapore, “nor would I expect China to walk back from what has been said.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Challenges for Russia and China test a 'no-limits' friendship

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during a visit to the neighbouring Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan in what would be his first overseas visit since the start of the pandemic. Eric Njoka tells you what this means for the Chinese President.

WION Fineprint | Why is Xi Jinping’s Central Asia trip important?

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September.

SCO 2022: India, China declare disengagement at line of actual control

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September. Indian and Chinese troops have also completed the disengagement process in the Gogra-Hot Springs area along the LAC.

India and China to be under one roof for SCO meet for first time after 2020 Galwan clashes

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September. WION correspondent Siddhant Sibbal in an exclusive interview with Manish Prabhat, ambassador to Uzbekistan.

WION Dispatch: 22nd SCO meet between head of member states

WION Dispatch | SCO 2022: Russian President to meet Chinese counterpart

After nearly two years President Xi Jinping will leave China for a trip to Central Asia where he will be meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan. The two leaders are due to meet on the sidelines as a Shanghai Corporation Organization Summit which is scheduled to take place on the 15th and 16th of September.

Xi Jinping to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will meet in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where regional political, security, and economic issues will be discussed. Indian Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel there.

What's on agenda? PM Modi to attend SCO summit with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin & Shehbaz Sharif

SCO Summit: Indian PM Modi to share the forum with Chinese President Xi Jinping

For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin

The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled. With this Xi will cement his place as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

Xi will land in Kazakhstan first on Wednesday, and then will travel to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, where he will meet Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit.

The meeting between Xi and Putin was confirmed by the Russian president’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, last week.

But he declined to give further details on the content of the talks, while China has yet to confirm Xi's travel plans.

The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian states. Iran, one of Moscow's key allies in the Gulf, is next in line to get the membership.,

The meeting comes as both share tense relationships with the United States, which have further deteriorated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"It is all about Xi in my view: he wants to show just how confident he is domestically and to be seen as the international leader of nations opposed to Western hegemony," George Magnus, author of "Red Flags", a book about Xi's challenges, told Reuters.

"Privately I imagine Xi will be most anxious about how Putin's war is going and indeed if Putin or Russia are in play at some point in the near future because China still needs an anti-western leadership in Moscow," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled.

For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled. With this Xi will cement his place as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Xi will land in Kazakhstan first on Wednesday, and then will travel to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, where he will meet Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit. The meeting between Xi and Putin was confirmed by the Russian president’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, last week. But he declined to give further details on the content of the talks, while China has yet to confirm Xi's travel plans. The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian states. Iran, one of Moscow's key allies in the Gulf, is next in line to get the membership., The meeting comes as both share tense relationships with the United States, which have further deteriorated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "It is all about Xi in my view: he wants to show just how confident he is domestically and to be seen as the international leader of nations opposed to Western hegemony," George Magnus, author of "Red Flags", a book about Xi's challenges, told Reuters. "Privately I imagine Xi will be most anxious about how Putin's war is going and indeed if Putin or Russia are in play at some point in the near future because China still needs an anti-western leadership in Moscow," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For first time since Covid outbreak, Xi Jinping to leave China, meet Putin

In the final episode of Inside Xi's China, The Great Game plan, the focus is on Xi Jinping's Legacy. It is at stake due to China's Economic Woes. Watch the Series Finale, 'Skating On Thin Ice' with Gaurie Dwivedi.

Series Finale | Inside Xi's China- The Great Game plan | Future of Xi Jinping

All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital&nbsp;Samarkand. The press secretary of Uzbekistan's President, Sherzod Asadov, in a Facebook post said that this will be the first in-person meeting of the SCO leaders since 2019 and will conclude the doubly landlocked central Asian country's chairmanship of the organization. In a picture he posted along with the message, he listed the names of all the eight leaders of the member states who will attend the summit in the country from September 15th to 16th.

The leaders include the host Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon. 
 
The grouping, which was formed in 2001, is one of the largest on the planet in terms of geographical size, population, and GDP. Sherzod in the statement said, "The following were at the core of Uzbekistan's chairmanship at SCO: - strengthening of economic ties and trade; promoting industrial and tech. cooperation; furthering broader connectivity; digital transformation and green economy; strengthening the international profile of SCO."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-disengagement-at-gogra-hotsprings-pp15-raise-hope-of-modi-xi-meet-at-sco-samarkand-summit-514177">Also read |&nbsp;India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit</a>

In all, 15 leaders will be attending the mega summit, including eight&nbsp;member countries, three&nbsp;observer countries, and four invited guests. The leaders of the observer countries include Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. 
 
The leaders who have been invited as guests at the summit are Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

The summit is happening at a time when&nbsp;global geopolitical changes, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Taiwan Strait crisis, and provides ample opportunities for the leaders to also hold bilateral talks. It is not known right now if PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks or not, but ahead of the summit, they announced the start of disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15, which is expected to be concluded by Monday, September 12th.

The ministry of external affairs said, "It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-stand-off period by both sides."

The development comes after the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17th. India and China have already undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot Springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. 
 
Ties between the two&nbsp;countries&nbsp;have nosedived since the 2020 Galwan incident, in which aggressive actions by Chinese forces led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency.

It is also not yet known if he will be meeting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and the likelihood also remains dim. The relationship between India and Pakistan remains in a deep freeze over Islamabad's support for cross-border terror. After New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Pakistan suspended people-to-people and trade ties with it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-envoy-adam-burakowski-says-india-can-convince-russia-to-stop-war-512299">Also read |&nbsp;Poland's envoy Adam Burakowski says India can convince Russia to stop war</a>

India is expected to raise issues like Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and trade at the summit, but a key outcome will be the handing over of the presidency of the group. Under its presidency, India will host the SCO summit next year, inviting all member countries, including the Pakistani and Chinese leadership. This year, the grouping also expanded to include Iran as its ninth&nbsp;member. The last major expansion of the grouping was in 2017 when both India and Pakistan became members.

Last week, Russian President Putin confirmed that he would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He told Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan." 
 
Li Zhanshu, the third highest ranking leader in the Chinese communist party, was in Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum.

It is important to know that this will be the first foreign visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping abroad since the COVID pandemic. He last visited abroad three&nbsp;years ago, which was a visit to Myanmar in January 2020.

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All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand.

All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand. The press secretary of Uzbekistan's President, Sherzod Asadov, in a Facebook post said that this will be the first in-person meeting of the SCO leaders since 2019 and will conclude the doubly landlocked central Asian country's chairmanship of the organization. In a picture he posted along with the message, he listed the names of all the eight leaders of the member states who will attend the summit in the country from September 15th to 16th. The leaders include the host Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon. The grouping, which was formed in 2001, is one of the largest on the planet in terms of geographical size, population, and GDP. Sherzod in the statement said, "The following were at the core of Uzbekistan's chairmanship at SCO: - strengthening of economic ties and trade; promoting industrial and tech. cooperation; furthering broader connectivity; digital transformation and green economy; strengthening the international profile of SCO." Also read | India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit In all, 15 leaders will be attending the mega summit, including eight member countries, three observer countries, and four invited guests. The leaders of the observer countries include Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The leaders who have been invited as guests at the summit are Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The summit is happening at a time when global geopolitical changes, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Taiwan Strait crisis, and provides ample opportunities for the leaders to also hold bilateral talks. It is not known right now if PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks or not, but ahead of the summit, they announced the start of disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15, which is expected to be concluded by Monday, September 12th. The ministry of external affairs said, "It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-stand-off period by both sides." The development comes after the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17th. India and China have already undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot Springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. Ties between the two countries have nosedived since the 2020 Galwan incident, in which aggressive actions by Chinese forces led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. It is also not yet known if he will be meeting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and the likelihood also remains dim. The relationship between India and Pakistan remains in a deep freeze over Islamabad's support for cross-border terror. After New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Pakistan suspended people-to-people and trade ties with it. Also read | Poland's envoy Adam Burakowski says India can convince Russia to stop war India is expected to raise issues like Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and trade at the summit, but a key outcome will be the handing over of the presidency of the group. Under its presidency, India will host the SCO summit next year, inviting all member countries, including the Pakistani and Chinese leadership. This year, the grouping also expanded to include Iran as its ninth member. The last major expansion of the grouping was in 2017 when both India and Pakistan became members. Last week, Russian President Putin confirmed that he would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He told Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan." Li Zhanshu, the third highest ranking leader in the Chinese communist party, was in Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum. It is important to know that this will be the first foreign visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping abroad since the COVID pandemic. He last visited abroad three years ago, which was a visit to Myanmar in January 2020. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi to attend SCO Samarkand summit: Uzbekistan

Indian and Chinese troops have started withdrawing from a major flashpoint in Eastern Ladakh. Why did Beijing decide to disengage now? Will this lead to a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Does Xi Jinping want a meeting with PM Modi?

In all possibility it will be a weakened Xi Jinping who will rule China after the 20th party congress meeting in October 2022. A collective leadership may take place of the present imperial rule. The kind of response that China's communist party had after Mao Zedong's death. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Xi Jinping’s legacy at stake | Promo

Excessive real estate crisis- which is the focus on house ownership in China, which stands at a whopping 90% is much higher than the average in developed countries where savings are routed to equity markets and debt instruments and not just pumped into the real estate sector. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Real Estate Crisis: Why realty matters in China? | Promo

It's not just about the economy, as Xi Jinping seeks greater control what he should be bracing for is more pushback both at home and abroad. China is perhaps one of the few countries that spends more on Policing its own people that on its national defence. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Spending on policing citizens more than national defence

Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. In a brief joint statement, the two&nbsp;sides said, "Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas.". The development comes after 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on&nbsp;July 17.

The Shanghai cooperation organisation or SCO summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan&nbsp;incident. So far, no confirmation, if Indian, and Chinese leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand is given by New Delhi or Beijing.

The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of actual control in eastern Ladakh, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delayed, accepted that it lost 4 of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. India and China already have undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain.&nbsp;

Russian President Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting the Chinese President on the sidelines of the SCO summit. During his meeting with, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu on Wednesday, he said, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan". Li Zhanshu is the 3rd highest-ranking leader of the Chinese communist party and was in Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic forum. SCO is one of the largest groupings in the world and was formed in 2001. Its members are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the 4 central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

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Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. In a brief joint statement, the two sides said, "Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas.". The development comes after 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17. The Shanghai cooperation organisation or SCO summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan incident. So far, no confirmation, if Indian, and Chinese leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand is given by New Delhi or Beijing. The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of actual control in eastern Ladakh, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delayed, accepted that it lost 4 of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. India and China already have undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. Russian President Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting the Chinese President on the sidelines of the SCO summit. During his meeting with, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu on Wednesday, he said, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan". Li Zhanshu is the 3rd highest-ranking leader of the Chinese communist party and was in Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic forum. SCO is one of the largest groupings in the world and was formed in 2001. Its members are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the 4 central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan next week. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since Ukraine's invasion. What will the two discuss? What should we expect? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping to meet Vladimir Putin next week

The CCP style of handling the Chinese economy through its growth on years has been that of choosing its preferred companies and providing them with a variety of benefits. To know more watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | China's economic woes | Promo

'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' has been a one of a kind documentary that has demystified the intrigue that has traditionally enveloped China. Watch the series final episode on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | From Mao to now | Promo

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday.&nbsp;

This will be the Chinese leader's first trip abroad since the start of the pandemic. "In less than 10 days our leaders will meet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit" in Samarkand, the Russian ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, told Russian agencies.&nbsp;

The meeting, which is expected to happen next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

This will also be Xi's first overseas trip since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which was first reported in China in December 2019.&nbsp;

Following a zero-Covid stance, China imposed strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the virus. It has significantly limited diplomatic travel for its top officials.&nbsp;

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday. This will be the Chinese leader's first trip abroad since the start of the pandemic. "In less than 10 days our leaders will meet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit" in Samarkand, the Russian ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, told Russian agencies. The meeting, which is expected to happen next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This will also be Xi's first overseas trip since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which was first reported in China in December 2019. Following a zero-Covid stance, China imposed strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the virus. It has significantly limited diplomatic travel for its top officials. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to meet in Uzbekistan next week: Report

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping eyeing ending his work-from-home strategy? The Chinese leader has not left mainland China since the pandemic began.

WFH to end for Xi Jinping? Is Xi planning his first trip since pandemic began?

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to venture out of the country on a trip to Kazakhstan next week. The announcement came from the Kazakh government's foreign ministry which stated that the visit will take place on September 14.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to venture out of the country on a trip to Kazakhstan next week. The announcement came from the Kazakh government's foreign ministry which stated that the visit will take place on September 14. Reportedly, Xi will meet Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the duo will hold bilateral talks aimed at deepening comprehensive strategic partnership and developing economic, cultural and trade cooperation. Following the trip to Kazakhstan, the Chinese leader is expected to visit Uzbekistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he might meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to experts, Xi's strategy of 'working-from-home', a direct consequence of his draconian 'zero-Covid' tolerance strategy was starting to have diplomatic consequences. It is pertinent to note that the last time Jinping stepped outside China was on a trip to the neighbouring country of Myanmar in January 2020, five days before his government locked down the city of Wuhan, the ground zero for the origin of coronavirus. Read more: China approves world's first inhaled COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use Moreover, Xi venturing into overseas pastures comes a month before the CCP holds a conference and grants him a precedent-busting third consecutive term in office. Xi is reportedly trying to send a message across the table that he is as active as he was prior to the pandemic. While 65 million Chinese citizens have been locked under tough COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the mid-autumn festival, the country’s second-most important holiday after the Lunar New Year, Chinese leaders are starting to catch flights abroad. As reported by WION, Li Zhanshu, no. 3 leader of China, is due to visit Russia next week. Li will embark on an official visit to Russia, Mongolia, Nepal, and South Korea from Wednesday until September 17, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Read more: China's number 3 leader Li Zhanshu to visit Russia next week (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Xi Jinping ends WFH: To step out of China for the first time since pandemic began

What to look for from China's 20th Communist Party Congress

“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future.

Then the speech disappeared from Chinese social media, giving way to speculations of a rift between Li and President Xi Jinping, as the latter is poised to retain his presidency for an unprecedented third term. The five-yearly Party Congress, set to open in Beijing on October 16, will also see Li stepping down from his post.

Li, who has a background in economics, had more or less disappeared from the state media headlines for months while Xi became the centre point of all policies, the chairman of everything.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-announces-agreement-for-29bn-sri-lanka-bailout-511949" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka and IMF reach staff-level agreement for $2.9 billion bailout loan</a>

Xi's crackdown on private businesses and push for a "shared prosperity" is driving China towards a socialist path after enjoying record-breaking growth as a freewheeling economy for the last four decades. This shift in direction and crackdown on big businesses naturally led to worries about China under Xi. So Li's speech added another dimension to the tea leaf reading by the analysts.

The goings on inside the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) always remained hazy and Beijing had projected a unified front before the world even when leaders faced headwinds.

Analysts and diplomats often had to resort to clues like state media headlines and public appearances of CCP leaders to gauge who is in favour and who is not. Going by that, it is hard to speculate Xi is facing any major challenge as he appeared in a total of 683 articles in the People’s Daily in July compared to a mere 32 featuring Li. Moreover, the news is also emerging that Xi is planning foreign visits later this year, signalling his confidence in his control over the party machinery.

So what to make of Li's pronouncements in Shenzhen? Some analysts say that his words and the act of paying respect to a statue of Deng Xiaoping are a signal to the country and the rest of the world that China will continue on its economic journey despite the recent crackdowns on high tech and real estate sectors.

But some see it as an admission by a weak premier that he failed to act as a counterweight to Xi in the party. "It is Li’s way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye," tweeted Adam Ni, who founded the widely followed China Neican newsletter.

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These are the actions/words of a man found wanting against greater forces, and trying to leave his mark on the public memory. It is Li's way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye...
— Adam Ni (@adam_ni) <a href="https://twitter.com/adam_ni/status/1560590612834816000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Still, it is foolhardy to think Xi has everything under control. His insistence on continuing the Zero Covid policy is throwing the supply chains into disarray while prolonged lockdowns are testing the patience of the people. The weeks-long lockdown in Shanghai recently saw frustration and anger surfacing on social media and the censors had to work overtime to remove comments targeted at the administration and CCP.

A report by a think tank on Sunday called for a change in Covid policies, but that was also taken off social media the next day. Currently, 28 cities are either completely or partially enforcing lockdown measures due to Covid outbreaks. There is no sign that Beijing is pondering changes to its Covid policies, but Chinese economists speculate lockdowns would gradually ease once the party congress is over.

Even more worrying for Beijing leaders would be the crisis in the real estate sector as people in more and more cities are now refusing to pay mortgage instalments for unfinished apartments adding to the woes of many cash-strapped builders. This could snowball into a much wider economic problem as many provinces have banked on land sales to fund government projects.

None of this is going to pave way for a coup and when the party congress opens in Beijing, the well-oiled party machinery will display the same old charade of leaders hailing the leadership and dishing out patriotic speeches about the country’s advance under the CCP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-city-chengdu-announces-mass-covid-19-testing-amid-rising-cases-511959">Chinese city Chengdu announces mass COVID-19 testing amid rising cases</a>

“Don’t read the latest gossip about Li challenging Xi as anything more than gossip. Xi almost certainly will continue on to a third term, making history as the most powerful Chinese leader in generations,” wrote Dexter Tiff Roberts, who had spent more than two decades in China as a Bloomberg correspondent and is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative.

CCP hates surprises and it is unlikely that even in the face of severe challenges they will have a sudden leadership change. The party has set aside term limits for the presidential post and declared Xi Jinping Thoughts as its guiding light. It is unlikely anything will change this immediately.

In a deep dive into the machinations that led to the rise of Xi, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Christopher Johnson, argues that CCP wanted a strong leader like him to take charge and shore up the party as the opening up under Deng Xiaoping had threatened the party’s grip on power while factions linked to former President Jiang Zemin played their own games.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future.

“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future. Then the speech disappeared from Chinese social media, giving way to speculations of a rift between Li and President Xi Jinping, as the latter is poised to retain his presidency for an unprecedented third term. The five-yearly Party Congress, set to open in Beijing on October 16, will also see Li stepping down from his post. Li, who has a background in economics, had more or less disappeared from the state media headlines for months while Xi became the centre point of all policies, the chairman of everything. Also read | Sri Lanka and IMF reach staff-level agreement for $2.9 billion bailout loan Xi's crackdown on private businesses and push for a "shared prosperity" is driving China towards a socialist path after enjoying record-breaking growth as a freewheeling economy for the last four decades. This shift in direction and crackdown on big businesses naturally led to worries about China under Xi. So Li's speech added another dimension to the tea leaf reading by the analysts. The goings on inside the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) always remained hazy and Beijing had projected a unified front before the world even when leaders faced headwinds. Analysts and diplomats often had to resort to clues like state media headlines and public appearances of CCP leaders to gauge who is in favour and who is not. Going by that, it is hard to speculate Xi is facing any major challenge as he appeared in a total of 683 articles in the People’s Daily in July compared to a mere 32 featuring Li. Moreover, the news is also emerging that Xi is planning foreign visits later this year, signalling his confidence in his control over the party machinery. So what to make of Li's pronouncements in Shenzhen? Some analysts say that his words and the act of paying respect to a statue of Deng Xiaoping are a signal to the country and the rest of the world that China will continue on its economic journey despite the recent crackdowns on high tech and real estate sectors. But some see it as an admission by a weak premier that he failed to act as a counterweight to Xi in the party. "It is Li’s way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye," tweeted Adam Ni, who founded the widely followed China Neican newsletter. These are the actions/words of a man found wanting against greater forces, and trying to leave his mark on the public memory. It is Li's way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye... — Adam Ni (@adam_ni) August 19, 2022 × Still, it is foolhardy to think Xi has everything under control. His insistence on continuing the Zero Covid policy is throwing the supply chains into disarray while prolonged lockdowns are testing the patience of the people. The weeks-long lockdown in Shanghai recently saw frustration and anger surfacing on social media and the censors had to work overtime to remove comments targeted at the administration and CCP. A report by a think tank on Sunday called for a change in Covid policies, but that was also taken off social media the next day. Currently, 28 cities are either completely or partially enforcing lockdown measures due to Covid outbreaks. There is no sign that Beijing is pondering changes to its Covid policies, but Chinese economists speculate lockdowns would gradually ease once the party congress is over. Even more worrying for Beijing leaders would be the crisis in the real estate sector as people in more and more cities are now refusing to pay mortgage instalments for unfinished apartments adding to the woes of many cash-strapped builders. This could snowball into a much wider economic problem as many provinces have banked on land sales to fund government projects. None of this is going to pave way for a coup and when the party congress opens in Beijing, the well-oiled party machinery will display the same old charade of leaders hailing the leadership and dishing out patriotic speeches about the country’s advance under the CCP. Also read | Chinese city Chengdu announces mass COVID-19 testing amid rising cases “Don’t read the latest gossip about Li challenging Xi as anything more than gossip. Xi almost certainly will continue on to a third term, making history as the most powerful Chinese leader in generations,” wrote Dexter Tiff Roberts, who had spent more than two decades in China as a Bloomberg correspondent and is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative. CCP hates surprises and it is unlikely that even in the face of severe challenges they will have a sudden leadership change. The party has set aside term limits for the presidential post and declared Xi Jinping Thoughts as its guiding light. It is unlikely anything will change this immediately. In a deep dive into the machinations that led to the rise of Xi, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Christopher Johnson, argues that CCP wanted a strong leader like him to take charge and shore up the party as the opening up under Deng Xiaoping had threatened the party’s grip on power while factions linked to former President Jiang Zemin played their own games. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Li comments unlikely to dent Xi juggernaut

Xi Jinping will secure a third term this year. But the Chinese President could be facing dissent from within. A report claims that 3 "party elders" have written an open letter. They have allegedly criticized the "unlimited power" of the party. Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping criticised by Communist Party 'elders'

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy.

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy. Reportedly, the market was closed after authorities observed nine symptomatic and two asymptomatic cases from testing conducted the previous day. Accordingly, the market will remain closed till Thursday and workers are expected to work from home and get routinely tested. Moreover, big tech companies such as Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Foxconn Technology Group have been advised by the authorities to restrict the movement of their employees. Read more: Chinese are selling their Rolex watches & Hermes bags to raise quick cash as economy tumbles The effect of the closure of cities The Covid cases have been spiralling out of control in China despite the majority of the populace being inoculated. Government estimates stated that the cases could touch the peak of 20,000 next month. As reported extensively by WION, China's 'zero-Covid tolerance' strategy has been one of the primary reasons why it has lagged in economic recovery. For months, the tough lockdown measures imposed by the Communist Party of China (CCP) led to a dip in manufacturing as factories and offices remain closed for prolonged periods. The direct consequence of the closure has been on the economy which only grew by a tiny 0.4 per cent in the quarter gone by. Such has been the condition that Politburo has given up on the 5.5 per cent economic growth rate forecast by the year-end. Shenzhen and its history It is pertinent to note that Shenzhen was one of the first four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to be established in China. It is also the birthplace of global mobile giant Huawei. The Huaqiangbei district invites the attention of tourists and technology aficionados who flock to the numerous stalls in the area to procure electronic goods. Read More: China's economic growth drops to 0.4 per cent amid draconian lockdown measures and severe heatwave Historically, Shenzhen was a fishing market. However, after Chinese President Deng Xiaoping took the centre stage, the fortunes of the city changed. The establishment of Huawei in 1987 by rem Zhengfei was the turning point and since then, the city has grown immensely, referred to as the 'Shenzhen speed'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amid a spike in Covid cases, China closes world's largest electronic market in Shenzhen

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