Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping meet on the margins of SCO summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand on Thursday, September 15. The main topic of discussion at the meeting is trade and economic cooperation, as reported by TASS.

The Russian leader expects new record figures for trade turnover between Russia and the PRC at the end of this year. Putin noted that in the near future, trade turnover may reach and even exceed $200 billion.

"Multifaceted ties between our countries are actively developing. Last year, the trade turnover increased by 35 per cent and exceeded 140 billion dollars."

Vladimir Putin Russian President

In the first seven months of this year, bilateral trade grew by another 25%, the Russian president said.

In his turn, Xi Jinping stated that China and Russia maintain effective strategic contacts even in the conditions of the pandemic. He mentioned that phone calls contribute to that. The last time the Heads of State held a telephone conversation on 15 June.

In addition, coordination between Russia and China in the SCO was an important subject of talks at the meeting of the two leaders.

"The task is to ensure comprehensive strengthening of the SCO as a platform for constructive and creative interaction," Putin stressed. The President especially noted that building the work on the principles of equality and mutual benefit as well as respect for each other's sovereignty enabled the organization to become an efficient mechanism of multilateral cooperation within a short period of time by historical standards.

The last time the two leaders met in person in February this year when Putin flew to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games.

Photo: kremlin.ru