OREANDA-NEWS At the talks in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin called President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping a dear friend.

The Russian leader arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for the SCO summit. In Bishkek, the head of state held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

p.m. "Dear Mr. Xi Jinping, dear friend! I am sincerely glad to meet you again, this time in Kyrgyzstan," Putin addressed the Chinese president on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

The Russian President recalled that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established 25 years ago on the initiative of Russia and China.