Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to meet with President Vladimir Putin next week

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will set the scene for Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, with a scheduled face-to-face meeting next week.

Taking place in Uzbekistan, the meeting will be the first time President Xi has left China since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, President Putin travelled to Beijing ahead of the Winter Olympics earlier this year.

The pair have established closer ties since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

China has repeatedly abstained from voting against UN-backed sanctions and action towards Russia’s “military operation”.

Beijing has blamed NATO expansionism and the U.S. for the conflict in Ukraine.

The two leaders have also declared their nations have a “no limit” partnership.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation includes representatives from China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.