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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan: Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin, China\u2019s Xi Jinping and more than a dozen other leaders will gather in Kyrgyzstan Monday for a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional bloc to counterinfluence to the West.<\/strong><\/p>\n The group, which is celebrating its 25-year anniversary, brings together Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries and Belarus.<\/p>\n Arriving in Bishkek on Sunday, Xi hailed a \u201cgolden period\u201d in relations with Central Asian Kyrgyzstan, as China deepens its influence in the historically Russia-dominated region.<\/p>\n Putin and Xi have previously used SCO summits to promote a multipolar world and present a united front against the West.<\/p>\n Iran will be represented by its president, Masoud Pezeshkian.<\/p>\n Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian as well as Pakistan\u2019s Shehbaz Sharif and India\u2019s Narendra Modi are due to take part in a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov.<\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to attend, though his country is not a formal member.<\/p>\n Putin is expected to hold separate bilateral talks with Iran\u2019s Pezeshkian and China\u2019s Xi, among other leaders, Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov said.<\/p>\n Russia and Iran \u2014 among the states most sanctioned by the west \u2014 have deepened their military and economic ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump has warned Moscow and Beijing against arming Iran.<\/p>\n The SCO has historically focused on economic issues, but has gained momentum in recent years under Moscow\u2019s and Beijing\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n On top of its 10 members, it now has 15 \u201cdialogue partners\u201d, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It also has two observer countries: Afghanistan and Mongolia.<\/p>\n The SCO\u2019s founding declaration says the group is \u201cnot an alliance directed against other states\u201d.<\/p>\n Real and trade wars<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bishkek summit takes place as some SCO members are in the midst of real wars \u2014 the Ukraine and Iran conflicts \u2014 or trade wars, with the imposition of US tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods.<\/p>\n This month, the US slapped secondary sanctions on Iran\u2019s trading partners in the sectors of gold, technology, digital assets, aviation and maritime transport, aiming to cripple Tehran\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n Washington has also threatened Iran\u2019s allies with sanctions.<\/p>\n China, a major importer of Iranian oil, responded by saying it will \u201cfirmly defend\u201d its interests.<\/p>\n Iran, living under sanctions since its 1979 revolution, has regularly said it will not cave to economic pressure.<\/p>\n The bloc claims to represent some 40 percent of the world\u2019s population and 25 percent of global GDP, it remains diverse, with some disagreements among members.<\/p>\n Russia and China compete for influence in Central Asia \u2014 a resource-rich region crucial for the transport of goods between Europe and Asia \u2014 while Beijing at times has had strained relations with India.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n