NEW DELHI: During the virtual SCO Summit hosted by India, Chinese President Xi Jinping called upon leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) bloc to prioritize the preservation of "regional peace".

In his address, Xi stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensure common security and maintain stability in the region. He urged member states of the SCO to unite, follow the correct path, and strengthen their mutual trust, as reported by China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his opening speech, urged the SCO to boldly condemn countries that support cross-border terrorism, indirectly referring to Pakistan's participation in the Summit.

Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his statement, expressed that the imposition of sanctions has only strengthened Russia. He asserted his country's determination to confront all sanctions and provocations.

Russia has been facing international sanctions since the commencement of its conflict with Ukraine in February 2022.

This Summit marked Putin's first public appearance at an international forum following the recent coup attempt against the Kremlin by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, last month.

Uniquely, India holds membership in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Quad, a coalition formed with the United States, Japan, and Australia to counter the increasing assertiveness of Beijing.

In a recent event, Prime Minister Modi received a grand state visit in Washington, where President Joe Biden referred to the two nations as "great friends and great powers."

Meanwhile, Moscow continues to be India's primary arms supplier, as they have maintained an alliance for several decades. 

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