Xi, Japarov hold talks in Bishkek ahead of SCO summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek on Monday for a state visit, where he was received by his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sadyr Japarov, with full ceremonial honours, including a mounted escort. The two leaders then held bilateral talks.

During the meeting, President Japarov reiterated Kyrgyzstan's firm commitment to the One China principle. He also expressed support for China's broader global initiatives concerning security, governance, and civilisation, describing them as efforts to foster a more equitable and stable international order.

The engagement in the Kyrgyz capital comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is scheduled to take place this week. The gathering is expected to bring together several key heads of state, including those of Russia and India, underscoring the bloc's role as a significant geopolitical grouping.

A series of sideline meetings have been planned around the main summit sessions. These include a bilateral discussion between President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, as well as talks between the Russian leader and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, when the official SCO proceedings are slated to begin.