Xi meets Iranian president briefly at SCO summit as China limits public exposure

President Xi Jinping met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for a few minutes on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, Iranian state media reported. The brief encounter focused on “bilateral ties in line with strengthening relations between Tehran and Beijing,” according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, though Chinese state outlets did not highlight the meeting.

Chinese media, including the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, extensively covered Xi’s interactions with other leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but omitted any mention of the Iranian side-meeting. Modi later posted photos of his own meeting with Pezeshkian.

"Xi is keeping Iran at arm's length publicly while still maintaining contact privately," said Han Shen Lin, managing director for Greater China at the Asia Group, a Washington-based advisory firm.

The SCO leaders issued a joint statement condemning recent military strikes on Iran and reaffirmed member states’ right to civilian nuclear development under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, without committing to concrete support.

Analysts noted that the lack of coverage suggests Beijing is managing optics to preserve its strategic partnership with Tehran without appearing to side with Iran ahead of Xi’s upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. China remains Iran’s largest buyer of sanctioned oil, though imports have fallen sharply since the conflict began as Beijing reduced purchases.

"Beijing has been consistent in what it wants from Tehran: an end to the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz reopened," said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, managing director at Ankura China Advisors. He added that the muted public posture may signal Beijing’s dissatisfaction with Tehran’s actions, while the informal conversation indicates the relationship remains open.