China to focus on post-pandemic recovery at Central Asia summit despite internal tensions

Virtual gathering of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to be the first for leaders of China and India since their bloody Himalayan border clash in May

But the meeting is expected to strengthen Beijing’s hand in the region, observers say

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The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have met most years since the group was established in 2001. Photo: AP

Published: 10:00pm, 7 Nov 2020Updated: 10:00pm, 7 Nov 2020

China is expected to further cement its influence in Central Asia as regional leaders meet for a virtual security and economic summit, despite tensions between members.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the leaders’ summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday, during a videoconference hosted by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

The eight-member SCO is led by China and Russia and includes India, Pakistan and the four post-Soviet nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

It was established in 2001 and a summit has been held almost every year since then.

This year’s leaders’ meeting comes as the US steps up its engagement with the region and local economies reel from the coronavirus pandemic.

Uprisings in Kyrgyzstan and Belarus, an observer state, as well as the long-simmering conflict between two dialogue states of Armenia and Azerbaijan have also cast a shadow over the already loose security and economic framework.