SCO summit in Bishkek brings Xi, Pezeshkian and Putin together

Leaders from China, Iran and Russia meet in Bishkek as SCO summit opens

Dozens of heads of state and government are gathering in Bishkek on August 31, 2026 for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where Beijing and Moscow aim to show unity and to counterbalance Western influence.

Among the most prominent attenders are Xi Jinping of China, Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran and Vladimir Putin of Russia, who are scheduled to meet in the Kyrgyz capital. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif are also present; leaders will take part in plenary sessions today and tomorrow.

Summit with security and economic focus

Xi Jinping, upon his arrival in Bishkek, hailed what he called a "golden era" for Chinese–Kyrgyz ties, underlining Beijing’s growing economic footprint across Central Asia. Iranian media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian landed in Bishkek this morning, while President Putin was expected to arrive later in the day.

Organizers say the summit will include a plenary hosted by Kyrgyzstan’s president Sadyr Japarov as well as a bilateral meeting planned between Putin and Pezeshkian, reflecting deepening Russo‑Iranian cooperation. The Kremlin has also said Putin will hold separate talks with leaders from China, India and Turkey.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, now composed of 10 member states — Belarus, China, India, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan — and 15 dialogue partners, presents itself as a forum focused on security and economic issues and as a counterweight to Western influence. Observers include Afghanistan. Its founding declaration states that the organization "is not an alliance aimed against other countries."

In recent years SCO activity has accelerated under the influence of Beijing and Moscow, who regularly use these gatherings to project a vision of a multipolar world and to underscore their political alignment.

Photo: press material from the event