BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday to attend an annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as well as a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of China, India and other nations.
A Moscow Times reporter observed a heavy police presence and traffic jams in the capital Bishkek ahead of the Russian president’s arrival.
Putin will first meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project, followed by a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Those first two meetings, as well as a third with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are part of the Russian leader’s nine bilateral talks with foreign leaders that will extend through Tuesday.
Later on Monday, Putin will join other heads of state at the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, a biennial cultural and athletic event featuring traditional Central Asian sports such as horseback archery, falconry and mounted wrestling.
