The upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China will be one of the most significant political events of the year.

China (Xi Jinping): The master and architect of a multipolar world

For President Xi Jinping, the summit is an opportunity to strengthen China’s position as the leader of the global South and the architect of a multipolar world free from US domination. At this summit, he will strive to carry out his agenda, namely:

Economic integration: A key topic will be the promotion of Chinese initiatives such as the Belt and Road within the framework of the SCO economic agenda. Beijing is interested in creating free trade zones, logistics corridors and promoting settlements with Russia in national currencies in order to reduce dependence on the dollar.

Security and stability. China will advocate for strengthening the SCO’s role in the fight against the “three forces of evil” — terrorism, separatism and extremism, especially in connection with the situation in Afghanistan. This directly concerns stability in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Further rapprochement with India. Beijing will strive to prevent the organization from becoming an anti-Chinese platform under the influence of India and the West. Chinese diplomacy is expected to work with Russia to mitigate the contradictions with New Delhi, but without making concessions on key contentious issues. Many analysts, including Western ones, assume that the Summit will see a further rapprochement between India and China, especially since Vladimir Putin will make his own efforts towards this.

According to the general opinion of the world media, Xi Jinping’s goal is to present the SCO as a successful, non-Western model of governance and cooperation, where China plays a central but not aggressive role.

Russia (Vladimir Putin): A diplomatic breakthrough and the search for legitimacy

For Vladimir Putin, a visit to China, as noted by the world media, is the most important diplomatic way out after the start of a special military operation and isolation from the West. Although it should be recognized that after the meeting in Anchorage with the President of the United States, D.Under President Trump, Russia’s chances of breaking out of Western isolation have increased dramatically, and Moscow continues to work hard and persistently in this area.

A demonstration of sovereignty and support. Putin needs to show domestic and international audiences that Russia is not isolated, but is a significant part of a powerful bloc challenging American hegemony. The summit will be a platform for demonstrating a close alliance with China.

Search for economic alternatives. The main practical task is to deepen economic cooperation with the SCO countries,........

© New Eastern Outlook