UPDATE - Russian, Chinese presidents discuss challenges facing world

UPDATE - CHANGED HEADLINE, DECK, EDIT THROUGHOUT

By Riyaz ul Khaliq and Elena Teslova

ISTANBUL / MOSCOW (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday discussed the challenges facing the changing world.

On the sideline of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, both leaders agreed to strengthen the SCO as a platform for constructive and creative interaction.

Putin said attempts to create a unipolar world have recently acquired "absolutely ugly outlines" and are absolutely unacceptable for the overwhelming number of states on the planet.

“For the first time in three years – after the break caused by the pandemic – the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is held in person,” he said, adding that this is important now to strengthen the SCO as a platform for constructive interaction.

Turning to the situation around Taiwan, Putin called "provocations" the US actions aimed to support Taiwan's stance to separate from China.

“We firmly adhere to the principle of ‘one China.’ We condemn the provocations of the United States and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

For his part, Xi said that "in the face of the colossal changes” on a global scale, China is ready together with its Russian colleagues to set an example of responsible world power and play a leading role in order to put a rapidly changing world on the trajectory of sustainable and positive development.

He also noted that despite the coronavirus pandemic, he and Putin continued to maintain "effective strategic contacts," through the telephone.

It is their first face-to-face meeting since Beijing Olympics in February.

The duo exchanged several phone calls after Russia launched a war on Ukraine on Feb. 24.