On July 4, 2025, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is slated to participate in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State via videoconference. The announcement comes from the Kremlin press office.
India will preside over the gathering, guiding discussions as the chair country.
As per the Kremlin, the session will review the SCO’s accomplishments over the past year and outline priority directions for deeper cooperation among member states. The aim is to strengthen multifaceted, mutually beneficial collaboration within the organization while addressing shared regional interests.
According to the SCO press service, participating leaders will also exchange perspectives on pressing international and regional issues that affect member nations and their neighbors.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established on June 15, 2001, emerged from the collaboration of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Over time the bloc has evolved into a forum for dialogue and practical cooperation rather than a formal military alliance.
The organization positions itself as a platform focused on stability and security across its territory, while promoting economic cooperation and addressing concerns such as terrorism, extremism, separatism, and cross-border crime. It seeks to balance security responsibilities with economic development and regional integration.
In remarks preceding the session, Putin addressed issues related to the future direction of the Russian armed forces and national defense priorities.