Russian people ‘united as never before’, Putin tells SCO leaders in first international event since Wagner mutiny
- President Vladimir Putin thanks Shanghai Cooperation Organisation colleagues ‘for supporting the Russian leadership’
- Moscow will continue to resist provocation, he vows, hitting back against ‘illegitimate sanctions’ and external forces waging a ‘hybrid war’
“Our country is continuing its steady development. The Russian people are consolidated and united as never before, highly responsible for the destiny of their country,” Putin told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, attended via video link by the leaders of China, India, Pakistan, Iran and four Central Asian countries.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues at the SCO for supporting the Russian leadership to protect our constitution, social order and the safety of our nationals,” Putin said.
As external forces had started a “hybrid war” and imposed “illegitimate sanctions” on Russia, the country would “continue to resist external pressure, sanctions and provocation”, he vowed.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping also referred to “external intervention” when he addressed the summit earlier.
“We should resolutely oppose any external intervention or intention to excuse and incite colour revolution,” Xi said, using Beijing’s term for popular uprisings orchestrated by the West, the US in particular.
The alliance should also improve intelligence and enforcement mechanisms and “conduct joint operations regularly” to combat regional security threats, Xi said.
Both leaders called for the increased use of national currencies in trade between SCO members, in a push for deeper integration within the bloc.
“China suggests expanding the use of national currencies within the SCO and cooperation in digital sovereign currencies,” Xi said. His comments come at a time of uneven post-Covid economic recovery for China, and with the yuan under increasing pressure.
He also urged the bloc to “promote the establishment of an SCO Development Bank”, referring to an idea China proposed over a decade ago but on which little progress has been made.
Echoing Xi, Putin said: “The use of national currencies in mutual settlements is becoming more widespread. More than 80 per cent of commercial transactions between Russia and China, for example, are already conducted in roubles and yuan.”
Russia has been isolated from the global Swift payment system as part of Western-led sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine. Putin called on the SCO to set up “necessary payment infrastructures” to strengthen regional economic integration and build an “independent financial structure”.
Terror threats – a long-time concern of the regional grouping – was also part of the discussion, with summit chair Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the need for “decisive action”.
“We have to fight together against terrorism in any form or manifestation,” Modi said in his opening remarks. “Terrorism has become a threat to regional, global peace.”
The leaders, including Modi and Xi, also stressed the importance for the SCO to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, where terrorist activities since the Taliban takeover about two years ago have sparked concerns about spillover effects on the rest of the region.
Afghanistan should not be allowed to be used as a base to destabilise the region, Modi said, while Xi urged the SCO to “continue to play the role of a coordination platform for Afghanistan’s neighbours … and help Afghanistan to establish an inclusive political structure”.
The leaders also welcomed Iran to the fold. With its full membership finalised at the summit, this is the first time the heavily sanctioned country has been admitted to a regional group since 1979.
Iran became an SCO observer in 2005 and signed a memorandum of commitment in September to become a permanent member.
Modi said he was “extremely happy” Iran was joining as a new member, and signalled a similar pathway for Belarus, another Russian ally and SCO observer in line for full membership.
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The heads of six international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, Asean, and the Commonwealth of Independent States – made up of former Soviet republics – were also invited to the summit.
The meeting was held in person last year and a combination of online and in person in 2021. Chair country India did not say why the event was not held in person this year.
SCO foreign ministers met in the Indian state of Goa in May while the defence ministers met in April in New Delhi to prepare for the summit.
No SCO member state has voted against Russia in UN resolutions since the invasion of Ukraine nearly 500 days ago.
