Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has touched down in China following his highly symbolic visit to North Korea, where he met Kim Jong‑un and was honored in Wonsan. His arrival in Beijing signals Moscow's deepening engagement ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers' meeting. This gathering sets the stage for the high‑stakes SCO summit in Tianjin from August 30 to September 1. Lavrov’s diplomatic blitz—linking Pyongyang and Beijing—underscores a reshaping of regional power dynamics, with Moscow pressing a message of unity among China, Russia, and North Korea. Watch for potentially critical alignments on security, economic initiatives, and strategic counterweights to Western influence. As Beijing hosts this heavyweight meeting, all eyes are on whether the trio will present a collective front that could recalibrate regional geopolitics.
