China's Xi to visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan from Tuesday

President Xi Jinping will make state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from Tuesday to Saturday. China’s foreign ministry says Xi will attend a summit of the Chinese and Russian-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The meeting will be held in Kazakhstan on Wednesday and Thursday. The ministry says Xi will also travel to Tajikistan. Russia says it is working to arrange a meeting between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit. The pact pledges mutual military assistance if either of the countries is placed in a state of war.