Russian, Armenian leaders meet on SCO summit sidelines in China

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China.

The meeting followed a reception hosted in honour of the heads of delegations attending the summit, as well as guests invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

This discussion was not initially listed in the official schedule announced to journalists by the Kremlin, but a representative emphasised that the itinerary is flexible and new bilateral contacts can be added at any time.

This meeting marks the first of a series of bilateral talks scheduled during Putin’s four-day visit to China.

The 25th SCO Summit, underway from August 31 to September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, marks the fifth time China has hosted the annual event and is the largest in the organization’s history. Hosted at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, the summit brings together leaders from over 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations, reflecting its growing global influence.

By Khagan Isayev