Russian, Chinese leaders to meet in SCO in show of deepening cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Thursday for the second time in as many months as they travel to Kazakhstan for a session of an international group founded to counter Western alliances.

Putin and Xi last got together in May when the Kremlin leader visited Beijing to underscore their close partnership that opposes the US-led democratic order and seeks to promote a more multipolar world.

Now they'll be attending a session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Kazakh capital of Astana. A look at the summit:

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 by China and Russia to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and the wider region, Other members are Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states and dialogue partners include Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Who's attending this year?

Besides Putin and Xi, and summit hos