Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, on Thursday.

During the brief meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the two leaders exchanged views on further cooperation and on regional and international issues. 

The SCO is a security and economic organization founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. 

At this year's summit, which takes place on June 8 and 9, India and Pakistan will become full members of the organization.