The SCO Tianjin Summit to Open Soon; Leaders from Various Countries Arrive in China One After Another

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is scheduled to be held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, with 22 foreign heads of state and 10 heads of international organizations in attendance, making it the largest summit in SCO history. Leaders from various countries have begun arriving in China since the 30th to prepare for the summit.

Many of the leaders attending the SCO Summit will also go on to attend the Beijing military parade on September 3.

Those leaders scheduled to arrive in China on the 31st include Russian President Putin, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and Iranian President Pezeshkian, among others.

According to the latest news from CCTV, Tianjin Binhai International Airport has completed its elaborate welcoming arrangements, including the national flags of each country, SCO-themed elements, and Tianjin landmarks. The welcoming ceremony will feature honor guards, salutes, flowers and dances from local youth.

Putin will visit China from August 31 to September 3, covering not only the Tianjin summit but also the September 3 military parade. During his visit, he is expected to hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Modi and others. Russia is also preparing for a possible meeting between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in June 2001 on the Bund in Shanghai. It is the first international organization established with Chinese participation and named after a Chinese city.

The SCO currently has 10 member states: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, India, Pakistan, and Iran.

Two observer states are Afghanistan and Mongolia.

The 14 dialogue partners are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.