Russia, China leaders set to meet on Thursday in Samarkand

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet China’s President Xi Jinping in Samarkand city, Uzbekistan on Thursday, a schedule distributed by the Russian delegation to media pointed out.

Putin and XI are in Samarkand to witness the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s meeting (SCO), a regional security group.

Moreover, the leaders will also hold a tripartite meeting with the Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

Putin has travelled to Samarkand and would also meet Iranian, Kyrgyz, Pakistani, Turkmen and Uzbek leaders, according to the Uzbek government.

It added in a statement that Putin is set to meet the leaders of Azerbaijan, India and Turkey.

Putin and Xi plan to discuss Ukraine and Taiwan at the meeting which the Kremlin says would hold “special significance” given the geopolitical situation.