China's President Xi Jinping Hosts Global Leaders in SCO Summit Amid Regional Tensions

China's President Xi Jinping is set to host leaders from Russia, India, and 14 other countries for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, days before a massive military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The SCO meeting, which will take place on Sunday and Monday, is seen as a platform for China and Russia to deepen ties with Central Asian states and demonstrate their influence in the region.

The summit comes as China's claim over Taiwan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have led to tensions with the US and Europe. Analysts say the SCO is one of the few forums where China and Russia can win influence without clashing with Western powers. More than 20 leaders, including Iranian and Turkish presidents, will attend the summit, which is expected to be more about optics and agenda-setting than producing substantial outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

The SCO summit will bring together 16 member countries, including China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran, and will be attended by over 20 leaders from around the world.
The summit will focus on regional collaboration and economic development, with an emphasis on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
The meeting comes amid tensions between China and the US over Taiwan, and between Russia and Ukraine over the latter's invasion.
China's President Xi Jinping is expected to use the summit to demonstrate his country's influence in the region and reinforce the idea that global governance is not Western-dominated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely seek to promote his country's narratives on the Ukraine conflict and demonstrate its partnership with China.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China is his first in five years, and is seen as an effort to mend ties between the two nations.

Statistics:

The SCO comprises 16 member countries, including 8 from Central Asia.
The summit will be attended by over 20 leaders from around the world.
China and Russia have used the SCO to deepen ties with Central Asian states, with China's BRI and Russia's EEU being key drivers of regional economic development.
The Ukraine conflict has led to tensions between Russia and the West, with the conflict unlikely to be "front and centre" of the SCO summit.

Sources:

AFP
Alliance News Ltd.
Asia Society Policy Institute
Nanyang Technological University
Soka University