Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Kyrgyzstan during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, highlighting their growing strategic partnership.

The summit in Bishkek brings together leaders from Russia, China, India, Iran and other member states to discuss regional security, economic cooperation and major international issues.

Putin and Xi are expected to discuss their countries’ expanding political and economic ties as both seek to strengthen cooperation outside the Western-led global order.

The meeting comes as Russia faces continued pressure from the West over the war in Ukraine, while China seeks to expand its influence across Central Asia and beyond, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The SCO has increasingly become an important forum for China and Russia to promote a multipolar world, although disagreements among its members could limit how closely they cooperate.