Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Bishkek on the sidelines of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit and discussed a possible permanent visa-free regime, along with international and regional issues.

The meeting between the two leaders took place in the Kyrgyz capital on August 31 as SCO leaders gathered for the summit. Xi and Putin exchanged views on matters of common concern and discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Xi Putin Hold Bishkek Talks

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin met on Monday in Bishkek during the ongoing SCO Summit.

The talks provided an opportunity for the Chinese and Russian leaders to review their bilateral relationship and discuss developments in the international and regional environment.

Their meeting came amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and continued efforts by both countries to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Visa-Free Travel Discussed

A key issue discussed by Xi and Putin was visa-free travel between China and Russia.

Russian President Putin said Moscow was prepared to work with Beijing to make the existing visa-free arrangement permanent if the Chinese side considers such a move useful and feasible.

The proposal could further facilitate travel between the two countries and strengthen people-to-people contacts.

Tourism Gets Major Boost

The Russian president highlighted the positive impact of visa-free travel on tourism between China and Russia.

According to Putin, tourist flows between the two countries increased significantly after the visa-free arrangement was introduced.

A permanent framework could provide further momentum to tourism, business travel and other forms of cross-border movement between Chinese and Russian citizens.

Global Issues On Agenda

Xi and Putin also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

The discussions came against the backdrop of continuing geopolitical tensions and changes in the international order.

Both China and Russia have repeatedly called for greater international cooperation and a more multipolar global system.

The Bishkek meeting allowed the two leaders to coordinate their positions on wider regional and international developments.

Russia China Strategic Partnership

The meeting also highlighted the continuing importance of the China-Russia strategic relationship.

Both countries have expanded cooperation across trade, energy, technology, security and diplomatic affairs in recent years.

Regular meetings between Xi and Putin have become an important feature of their bilateral engagement, with both leaders maintaining close high-level communication.

SCO Summit In Bishkek

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit 2026 in Bishkek.

The SCO brings together countries from across Eurasia and provides a platform for discussions on security, economic cooperation, connectivity and regional development.

For both Beijing and Moscow, the organisation remains an important forum for engagement with Central Asian countries and other regional powers.

Wider Regional Significance

The Xi-Putin meeting comes at a time when Central Asia is gaining greater strategic importance for major powers.

China has expanded its economic and infrastructure engagement across the region, while Russia continues to maintain extensive political, security and economic links with Central Asian states.

The Bishkek summit therefore provides an important platform for both countries to discuss regional priorities while strengthening their bilateral partnership.

Closer China Russia Ties

The discussion on visa-free travel adds a people-to-people dimension to the broader China-Russia relationship.

If made permanent, the arrangement could encourage greater tourism and commercial exchanges between the two countries.

The Bishkek talks also demonstrate that China and Russia continue to maintain close diplomatic engagement on international and regional issues, even as the global geopolitical environment remains unsettled.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, calling for deeper bilateral cooperation as global uncertainties increase.

The meeting underscored the continuing strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow, with the two leaders discussing bilateral ties as well as international and regional developments. Xi said China was ready to work with Russia and other countries to support a more equal and orderly multipolar world.

Xi Warns Of Rising Uncertainty

Xi told Putin that “uncertainties and unpredictable factors” in the international situation had increased significantly.

He said the foundations of China-Russia relations would become stronger under the strategic guidance of both countries and through continued joint efforts.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, Xi also stressed that despite changes in the international environment, the desire of people around the world for peace, development, cooperation and mutually beneficial outcomes remained unchanged.

Beijing Backs Multipolar World

Xi said China was prepared to work with Russia and other countries to strengthen efforts to reform global governance.

The Chinese leader advocated an “equal and orderly multipolar world”, reflecting Beijing's long-standing push for a more distributed international system rather than one dominated by a single major power.

The remarks also underline the broader strategic coordination between China and Russia as both countries seek greater influence in international affairs.

Putin Highlights AI Cooperation

Putin used the meeting to highlight opportunities for expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

He said bilateral cooperation was developing across multiple areas and argued that advances in AI and digital innovation could create new opportunities for economic development in both countries.

The emphasis on technology indicates that China-Russia cooperation is extending beyond traditional areas such as energy, trade and strategic affairs into emerging digital sectors.

Ukraine War Also Discussed

The two presidents also touched upon the Ukraine conflict during their meeting, although it was not described as the main focus of their talks.

The discussion came amid continuing international efforts to address the war and wider tensions between Russia and Western countries.

The meeting nevertheless centred more broadly on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

Putin Seeks Permanent Visa-Free Deal

Putin also proposed making the China-Russia visa-free arrangement permanent if Beijing considers the move practical and beneficial.

He said the existing arrangement had contributed to a significant increase in tourism between the two countries.

A permanent visa-free framework could further increase travel and people-to-people exchanges while supporting tourism and business links between China and Russia.

SCO Summit Sets Backdrop

The Xi-Putin meeting took place during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, bringing together leaders from across Eurasia.

The SCO has evolved from its original regional security focus into a wider platform for political, economic and security cooperation. The 2026 summit comes as China and Russia seek to strengthen their influence across Eurasia while promoting alternatives to Western-led international institutions.

The summit also provided an opportunity for Xi to hold separate meetings with leaders including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.

China-Russia Ties Deepen

The latest meeting reinforces the strategic importance both governments attach to their relationship.

For Beijing, Russia remains an important partner in energy, security and broader Eurasian diplomacy. For Moscow, closer ties with China provide economic and diplomatic support as Russia continues to face pressure from Western countries over the Ukraine war.

The latest discussions show that cooperation is also expanding into AI, digital innovation, tourism and global-governance issues.

However, the meeting should not be interpreted as evidence of a formal military alliance between the two countries. Instead, it reflects their continuing strategic coordination and shared interest in promoting a multipolar international order.