On the afternoon of August 31 local time, President Xi Jinping met with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.

President Xi Jinping recalled President Vladimir Putin’s successful state visit to China in May this year. During the visit, the two presidents mapped out plans from a strategic height and with a long-term perspective to steer the bilateral relations toward higher quality and higher levels, and reached consensus on deepening cooperation in various fields between China and Russia under the new circumstances. The competent authorities of both countries are actively implementing those understandings. Many results have been achieved, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation have maintained a robust momentum of development. President Xi Jinping expressed the confidence that under the strategic guidance of the two presidents and with the joint efforts of both sides, China‑Russia relations will have a more solid foundation, advance at a steadier pace, and embrace brighter prospects.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that while uncertainties and unpredictable factors in the international landscape have significantly increased amid the accelerating global transformation unseen in a century, the aspiration of people around the world for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remains unchanged. The SCO has the important mission of safeguarding regional stability and promoting regional development. China is ready to work with Russia and all other parties to jointly draw up the blueprint for the organization's development, help it pursue steady and long-term progress, and boost the forces that steer global governance reform and advance an equal and orderly multipolar world.

President Vladimir Putin noted that despite the turbulent and complex international situation, Russia and China have steadily deepened their comprehensive strategic coordination, upheld equality, mutual trust, and mutual support, and enjoyed rapidly growing cooperation across different areas. Russia-China relations have become a model for state-to-state relations. Russia stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, energy, industry, transport, and science and technology, and intensify people-to-people exchanges, so as to continuously achieve new outcomes in the bilateral relations. With joint efforts of all parties, the SCO has become a dynamic and efficient regional cooperation platform with important international influence. Russia and China should continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation within the organization and play a lead role. Russia will enhance coordination and collaboration with China within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20, and supports China in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, with a view to jointly safeguarding world peace, stability, and prosperity.

The two presidents also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the meeting.