Xi and Putin Present United Front as China Pushes Alternative Global Order

According to a report from CNN, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin stood side by side at this week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, showcasing deepening ties between their two countries as Beijing casts itself as an alternative global leader to the United States and its allies.

In his opening remarks, Xi urged member states to capitalize on their “mega-sized markets” and economic strengths while promoting integration over “decoupling.” He also unveiled a Global Governance Initiative, building on his previous proposals for security, development, and cultural cooperation. The initiative is designed to amplify the voice of developing nations, strengthen multilateralism, and challenge what Beijing views as a Western-dominated international order.

Without directly naming the U.S., Xi criticized “hegemonism,” “Cold War mentality,” and “bullying practices,” terms often used by Beijing to describe Washington’s policies. He stressed that global governance should be “more just and equitable,” pushing back against alliances such as NATO and questioning the universality of Western-defined human rights.

Putin, echoing Xi’s remarks, framed the SCO as laying the foundation for a “new system” of Eurasian security, one he said would replace “outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models.” He insisted such a system would be more inclusive and balanced, protecting the interests of a broader range of countries.

Analysts told CNN that Putin is using the summit to demonstrate Russia is not isolated, pointing to Beijing’s backing as a sign that Western sanctions have failed to break Moscow. At the same time, the Kremlin is seeking to deepen strategic alignment with China, particularly in securing supplies of dual-use goods that can sustain its war effort.