Big smiles, hearty laughs, warm hugs…

The atmosphere at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China feels more like a school reunion, where old classmates compare how much weight they have put on.

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi – who represent the top three largest powers not aligned with the West – are shown joking like friends as they greet each other at the event earlier today.

It starts with Russia’s president and India’s prime minister holding hands and walking into a meeting hall filled with other world leaders. 

They head straight for China’s president Xi Jinping, enthusiastically shake hands and form a close circle.

In his remarks to open the talks, Modi then describes the partnership with Russia as ‘special and privileged.’ 

And Putin them addresses Modi as a ‘dear friend’ and hails Russia’s ties with India as special, friendly and trusting.

As intended, this anti-Western coalition – dubbed the ‘axis of upheaval’ – appears united to offer an alternative world order, challenging the US.

Keir Giles, a leading analyst on European defence and Russia at Chatham House in London, told Metro that the relationships on display are ‘a visual reminder of the way alliances have formed in the global confrontation.’

He added: ‘The coalition that stands against the liberal democracies has a mutual understanding, which is far more developed and purposeful than that of the group of Western democracies, which are still floundering on how to defend themselves.

‘To some extent, it does represent a broad consensus about how the world should be run – and it is a very different consensus to the one that prevails in Europe and in other Western democracies.’

What Giles thought was ‘most disturbing’ is the way this close relationship on display between Russia and China was ‘mimicked’ by Donald Trump during the summit in Alaska earlier in August.

He explained: ‘Trump also welcomed Putin as though he was greeting an overlord rather than dealing with a pariah state that is vastly weaker that his own.

‘The Alaska Summit is a confirmation that the US’ place in the coalition of democracies is no longer assured.

‘The way in which the US has been so eager to pursue Russia’s desired policies with regards to Ukraine and elsewhere is not a surprise, but still seems to shock to Europe and other democracies around the world.’

The SCO, set up in 2001, is the successor to the Shanghai Five, a grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, set up in 1996.

It now also includes India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and Uzbekistan. It is aimed at strengthening relations among member states and promoting cooperation in political affairs, economics, and trade.

Xi told the SCO leaders that the global international situation is becoming more ‘chaotic and intertwined’.

The Chinese leader also slammed the ‘bullying behaviour’ from certain countries – a veiled reference to the US.

He added: ‘The security and development tasks facing member states have become even more challenging.

‘With the world undergoing turbulence and transformation, we must continue to follow the Shanghai spirit…and better perform the functions of the organisation.’

Putin used his speech to defend his invasion of Ukraine, blaming the West for triggering the three-and-a-half year war.

He warned: ‘This crisis was not triggered by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but was a result of a coup in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West.

‘The second reason for the crisis is the West’s constant attempts to drag Ukraine into Nato.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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They group had a miraculously escaped after being swept away.

The plane was carrying 241 passengers – only one survived.

The sole survivor of the Air India disaster carried the coffin of his brother to his funeral hours after being discharged from hospital.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stumbled out of the burning jet moments before it exploded, whilst all other 241 onboard – including his brother Ajay – were killed.

His body was among as many as 270 recovered from the site of the crash in the city of Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, on Thursday last week.

Footage shows the British national valancing Ajay’s coffin on his shoulder, despite walking with a visible limb.

His face is covered in plasters – injuries suffered during the collision after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner reported a loss of engine thrust after take-off.

The tragic parade made its way through the streets less than a week after the plane came down.

Vishwas’ family from Leicester – including his wife and son – have flown out to India to be with him following news of the tragedy.

Both brothers are natives of the coastal town of Diu and had travelled to India to spend time with their family.

Local officials confirmed that Ajay was cremated in the town by his family.

Vishwas’ survival has been hailed a miracle – and he was even visited by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sitting in 11A – a window seat by an emergency exit – he was able to crawl out of the aircraft, and was filmed walking into the street.

Meanwhile, Ajay was at the far end of the same row on the other side of the aisle – seat 11J.

Vishwash told DD News: ‘I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble.’

He described what happened before the crash and said: ‘When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air.

‘Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white.

‘The aircraft wasn’t gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.’

He added: ‘At first, I thought I was dead. But when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive.

‘Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage.

‘I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out.

‘[There was a] little bit of fire, after that I’m out. Then [the] blast,’ he said.

‘I just walked out, then ambulance is coming.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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