Putin, Jinping to Attend Virtual SCO Summit Hosted by PM Modi

New Delhi: China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will be among the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) attending the online summit hosted by India on Tuesday.

During this summit, the SCO will discuss including Iran and Belarus as members.

It will be Vladimir Putin’s first appearance at an international event after the incidents related to Wagner mercenary group in Russia in late June.

The SCO was formed in 2001 by China and Russia, with former Soviet Central Asian states as its members. Later India and Pakistan joined the eight-member SCO. This political and security group aims to counter Western influence in Eurasia.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Iran is expected to be accepted as a member.  Belarus will sign a memorandum of obligations which will lead to its membership later.

Interestingly, PM Modi will host this summit two weeks after his state visit to the US and meeting with US President Joe Biden.