China’s Xi tells Putin that foundations of bilateral ties will be stronger

China’s Xi tells Putin that foundations of bilateral ties will be stronger at Shanghai summit YURAS KARMANAU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO UPDATED 55 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and China's President Xi Jinping pose for photos during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday. KRISTINA SOLOVYOVA, SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL PHOTO VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. The leaders of China, Russia and India gathered with other heads of state in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group billed as a counterweight to U.S. global influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are attending the events in Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation. Putin met separately with Xi and Modi in two of the many bilateral sessions on the sidelines of the summit. Putin affirmed to Xi Moscow’s readiness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent, and he said Russia’s relationship with India is strengthening. Opinion: Dictators are pleased to watch Canada and the U.S. slug it out Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that under their “strategic guidance and joint efforts,” the foundations of bilateral ties will be stronger, with brighter prospects, China’s state-run Xinhua reported. “Uncertainties and unpredictable factors in the international situation have increased markedly,” Xi said, adding that people’s pursuit of peace, development and co-operation remained unchanged. China is willing to work with Russia and others to “strengthen the forces leading the reform of global governance and advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world,” Xi said during the meeting on the sidelines of the summit in Kyrgyzstan. The two also discussed international and regional issues of common concern, Xinhua said. Talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected Tuesday, the day of the official SCO sessions. Russia, now 4 1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Iran, six months into a war with the United States and Israel, see the summit as an important platform to strengthen their relations with non-Western partners. Modi told Putin…