Several global politicians arrived at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan on Thursday. Upon their arrival, the Chinese and Turkish presidents received a warm welcome from Uzbek officials, but none of the pomp that had awaited Russian President Vladimir Putin. We headed to the cars prepared along the runway.
“Know the difference.” When Chinese and Russian presidents fly to the same summit. | | Video: Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife were welcomed at the airport by a delegation of Uzbek dignitaries. Both then received a bouquet of roses from a traditionally dressed female assistant and saluted as they were escorted by soldiers walking on the carpet.
In addition to many politicians, local musicians and dancers also waited for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who performed on the runway at night. Uzbekistan representatives hoisted the flags of the organization’s member countries at the airport in honor of the two presidents.
But the Russian president did not receive a similarly lavish reception. Neither soldiers nor dancers were waiting for him on the carpet. After disembarking the plane, after a brief greeting with the Uzbekistan representative, he made his way to his parked car. The more modest arrangement of Putin’s welcome may have been tailored to the fact that the Russian president fears for his life because of his aggressive political style.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s two-day summit kicked off on Thursday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s second-largest city. Founded in 2001, the SCO is made up of eight countries: China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan. Turkey is also one of our partner countries.
On Thursday, beside the summit, Putin met his Chinese counterpart for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine began in February. According to the Russian president, the “Russian-Chinese tandem” plays an important role in ensuring global and regional stability. “I am very appreciative of the balanced position taken by our Chinese friends on the crisis in Ukraine. I also understand your questions and concerns,” Putin said at the meeting.
