As global leaders gathered in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, a moment of warmth and familiarity between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping drew attention on the sidelines of the event.The two leaders were seen warmly greeting each other at a photocall, before Xi called in an interpreter for what seemed like a friendly conversation. Their interaction continued as the family members gathered for the family photo, underscoring the close personal rapport they share.Putin arrived in Tianjin on Sunday with a high-level delegation that included foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov and Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, among others, according to Russian news agency Tass.The Russian leader was greeted with a classic Russian folk song Kalinka upon his arrival in the summit, as reported by RT news agency.The ceremony was held at the Tianjin Meijiang International Convention and Exhibition Center, where Xi delivered an address before hosting the guests for a concert.The summit in Tianjin, the largest SCO gathering since the bloc was founded in 2001, highlights Beijing’s push for stronger multilateral platforms as an alternative to Western-led alliances such as Nato.Putin, in an interview with Chinese state media ahead of his trip, described the China-Russia partnership as a “stabilizing force” for the world, adding that both nations were “united in our vision of building a just, multipolar world order.”The Russian leader is expected to stay on in China for a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which China commemorates as the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is also expected to attend.On the sidelines of the SCO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate meetings with both Xi and Putin. In his conversation with Xi, PM Modi said India was committed to advancing bilateral ties on the basis of “mutual trust, dignity and sensitivity.” Xi, in turn, stressed that China and India should view each other as “partners rather than rivals.”
