World News | President Putin Meets Xi Jinping on Sidelines of SCO Summit, Says Ready to Work with Beijing to Make Visa-free Regime Permanent

Bishkek [Kyrgyzstan], August 31 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

In a post on X, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two leaders held a bilateral meeting.

Also Read | Passenger Jets Fly Just 41 Feet Above Packed Cape Town Stadium, Video Goes Viral.

"On August 31, President of Russia Vladimir Putin & President of China Xi Jinping held a meeting in Bishkek," the Ministry said.

President Putin said at the meeting that his country is ready to work with China to make the bilateral visa-free regime permanent if Beijing considers this possible and useful, according to Russian News Agency TASS.

Also Read | Viral Video Shows Satellite-Operated Car Crashing Into Police Mobile Outside Parliament House in Pakistan.

"We are ready to work together to make the visa-free regime permanent if the Chinese side considers this possible and useful," Putin said, the report stated.

President Putin noted that visa-free travel had helped increase tourist flows between the countries by 43% in the first half of the year.

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2094401039420010676?s=20

The Chinese President also met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

President Mirziyoyev said in a post on X that they discussed strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

"On the sidelines of the #SCO summit, President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in #Bishkek. The leaders discussed further strengthening multifaceted cooperation between #Uzbekistan and #China across key areas," he said.

https://x.com/president_uz/status/2094400520890781977?s=20

Earlier, President Jinping also met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. "President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov @sadyrzhaparovkg held talks with President Xi Jinping. President Xi noted that in recent years, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have developed by leaps and bounds," Mao Ning, Spokesperson of the China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a post on X.

"The signing of the treaty between China and Kyrgyzstan on permanent good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation will provide an important foundation for the two countries to enjoy lasting friendship and unwavering mutual support," the post added. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)