Mirziyoyev's meeting with Putin begins (video)

The bilateral meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun in China, TASS reported.

The two leaders had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit before proceeding to full-scale negotiations.

According to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian President, the talks will focus primarily on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

For context, President Mirziyoyev is paying an official visit to China from August 30 to September 3 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. On September 3, he will also take part in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II.

The celebrations in Beijing will be attended by heads of state and government from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Serbia, Slovakia, Cuba, and Myanmar.

Earlier today, Mirziyoyev held talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing with the participation of both countries’ official delegations. During the meeting, he extended an invitation for the Chinese leader to visit Uzbekistan.