Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
Russia and China are set to use a major regional summit in Kyrgyzstan to strengthen cooperation and promote a vision of a more multipolar international system, as tensions with the West remain high.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to join leaders from Iran, India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries in Bishkek for a two-day summit marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The meeting comes at a sensitive time, with the Russia-Ukraine war continuing and tensions between Iran and the United States adding to geopolitical uncertainty. Putin is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Xi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
For Moscow and Beijing, the SCO provides an important platform to demonstrate diplomatic coordination outside Western-led institutions. Both leaders have previously used the grouping to call for a multipolar world and criticize what they describe as unilateral or coercive policies by Western powers.
Iran is likely to view the summit as an opportunity to deepen ties with Russia and China while seeking greater economic room under international sanctions. China, meanwhile, has strong economic interests in Iran, including its energy trade, and has opposed measures that threaten those interests.
However, the SCO’s growing membership does not necessarily translate into a unified strategic bloc. Its members have different political priorities and economic interests. Russia and China compete for influence in Central Asia, while China has complicated relations with India and Pakistan.
The organisation has expanded beyond its original security and economic focus, with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar among its dialogue partners. Yet its ability to respond collectively to major conflicts remains limited.
The Bishkek summit is therefore likely to highlight both the growing influence of the SCO and the challenges of turning its diverse membership into a coherent alternative to Western influence.
