Xi Jinping Expands Global Diplomatic Influence Ahead of Trump Summit

Xi Jinping Arrives in Bishkek for SCO Summit

The capital of Kyrgyzstan hosts the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on Monday and Tuesday, bringing together heads of state from Russia, India, and other non-Western nations. Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo, told CNBC via email that Xi has “sharply curtailed foreign travel in recent years, so his busy upcoming travel schedule is a significant gauge of his priorities.” This year, the Chinese leader has ventured abroad only once before, for a state visit to North Korea in June—his first in seven years—while more than 20 foreign leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, visited Beijing during the first half of the year, according to data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies cited by CNBC.

Global Stakes and the Push for Global Public Goods

Rising international stakes, including the war involving Iran, U.S.-China trade tensions, and growing artificial intelligence security risks, are driving Beijing to evolve its global role, according to analysts. “It’s time for China to probably take bigger responsibility, provide more global public goods,” Hai Zhao, director of international political studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told CNBC. Zhao added that “because of China’s deep integration into the global economy, China is an integral part of the solution,” whether addressing supply chain security, oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, or cybersecurity. According to CNBC, Trump arrived in Beijing ahead of a high-stakes summit following weeks of unsuccessful U.S. efforts to persuade China to help bring Iran back to negotiations and ease Strait of Hormuz tensions, placing trade, Taiwan, AI, and the Iran war at the center of upcoming bilateral talks.

Multilateral Diplomacy: SCO and BRICS Summits

Following the Bishkek meetings, Xi plans to make his first state visit to Egypt in a decade, where China has built up a bilateral economic and trade cooperation zone in the Suez Canal region, according to CNBC. Xi is then expected to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi from September 12 to September 13, though China has not yet officially confirmed his participation. Richard M. Rossow, senior advisor and chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at CSIS, told CNBC that India will use its presence at the SCO and BRICS summits to demonstrate the strength of its multi-polar alignment to Washington. Meanwhile, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, South Asia practice head at Eurasia Group, told CNBC that the Indian side will convey to the U.S. that “there will be a price if you continue to remain uncertain.” Washington is closely monitoring these developments as it navigates trade negotiations with India and plans tougher stances on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Bilateral Dynamics Between India and China

Relations between neighbors India and China have shown signs of improvement since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping were seen laughing together at the SCO summit in Tianjin last year, an interaction that drew criticism from Washington. Direct flights have resumed, old Silk Road trade routes have opened, and India relaxed rules on Beijing investment in March, according to CNBC. Last week, both sides agreed to work on resolving long-standing border disputes, though Indian executives still face visa difficulties, and trade restrictions remain in sectors where India seeks self-sufficiency. Salvador Santino Regilme, associate professor and programme chair of international relations at Leiden University, told CNBC that the deeper U.S.-China conflict “concerns hierarchy, legitimacy and the future architecture of global order,” noting that both superpowers remain locked in strategic rivalry alongside deep mutual economic dependence.

U.S.-China Tech Focus and AI Guardrails

Senior officials met in Beijing last week for a “Track 1.5” semi-official dialogue led by the Asia Society, where discussions included U.S.-China AI guardrails and bilateral collaboration on global cancer research, according to CNBC and Asia Society CEO Kevin Rudd. Hai Zhao told CNBC that if powerful large language models fall “into the wrong hands it will be very damaging both to the U.S. and China and to the global economy,” suggesting the two leaders could establish a mechanism to guide AI development alongside a tariff truce. Conversely, Teneo’s Wildau expressed less optimism, citing a “widespread conviction that AI development is a zero-sum game.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive in Bishkek?

What is the primary focus of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit?

The annual SCO summit focuses on regional security, economic cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy among non-Western nations including China, Russia, and India.

Will Xi Jinping visit India for the BRICS summit?

Xi is expected to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi from September 12 to September 13, 2026, though Beijing has not yet officially confirmed his participation.