Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing following his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, according to Russian news agencies.
Putin was received by Chinese President Xi Jinping and is scheduled to attend today’s grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, which marked the end of the Second World War.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit: Putin, Xi and Modi reject western “coercive measures”
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin, concluded with a strong message aimed at the West, particularly the United States. Leaders of Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan joined forces in rejecting what they called unilateral coercive practices.
A rebuke to Washington’s tariffs
The joint declaration stated that SCO members “reject unilateral coercive measures, including economic ones,” a thinly veiled reference to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff policies. Washington had recently doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50% as punishment for New Delhi’s oil dealings with Moscow.
Gaza, Kashmir, and Iran on the agenda
The communiqué, carried by China’s Xinhua News Agency, strongly condemned actions that “cause civilian casualties and humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza, calling for an “immediate and sustainable ceasefire” and “unimpeded humanitarian access.”
The SCO also denounced the April 22 terrorist attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed more than 30 people, noting that the issue sparked tensions between India and Pakistan during defense ministers’ talks.
In addition, the declaration sharply criticized U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, labeling them “aggressive actions against civilian infrastructure” and a “violation of international law.”
No mention of Ukraine – Outrage in Kyiv
Significantly, the text contained no reference to Russia’s war in Ukraine, triggering outrage from Kyiv.
In a statement, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said:
“It is astonishing that the largest war in Europe since World War II has not been reflected in such an important and fundamental document.”
The SCO as a counterbalance to NATO
Founded 24 years ago, the SCO has long been seen as a geopolitical counterweight to NATO. While economic issues have typically dominated its agenda, the current summit underscored the organization’s growing role as a platform for coordinated stances against the West.
