- China is hosting two major events: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin and a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
- SCO members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observers; 14 other countries are “dialogue partners.”
- Leaders from more than 20 nations are attending, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly.
- Modi’s visit to China is his first in seven years, signaling a thaw in China-India relations after a 2020 border clash. Bilateral tensions, such as US-China and US-India tariff disputes, have pushed China and India closer on certain fronts.
- The military parade in Beijing showcases China’s advanced weaponry, featuring over 100 aircraft, tanks, and missiles.
- Notable attendees include Xi, Putin, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, and leaders from Myanmar, Cuba, DRC, Zimbabwe, and pro-Russia European leaders from Serbia and Slovakia. India, Egypt, and Turkey will not attend the parade.
World Leaders Attend China’s SCO Summit and Military Parade
