From August 31 to September 1, 2025, China hosted the 25th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Covering the event on the last day of summer, ONT aired a report by political commentator Igor Tur. In the report, it was said that “Xi Jinping’s special attitude toward the Belarusian leader is evident in everything: the arrival ceremony, the particular splendor of the motorcade, which in the language of diplomacy carries great significance.”
“But most importantly, the leader of powerful China, who these days is hosting a whole array of SCO heads of state, makes his very first bilateral meeting a top priority with Belarus,” the report said.
A bilateral meeting between Alexander Lukashenko and Xi Jinping did, in fact, take place. However, on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website, which publishes information about meetings with foreign heads of state, it is noted that the first meeting was with the United Nations secretary-general. On the same day — August 30 — the Chinese leader also met with the heads of Egypt, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Kazakhstan. Belarus’s representative appeared on the summit host’s schedule only the next day, after talks with the prime minister of Armenia.
CTV also claimed that Xi Jinping showed special treatment toward Alexander Lukashenko. In a report from the scene, correspondent Yevgeny Pustovoy stated:
“A red carpet and an honor guard for Putin, Modi, and Guterres. Alexander Lukashenko was also greeted by several busloads of young women in national costume.”
The WTF team found video footage of representatives from other countries taking part in the summit. In China, the Indian prime minister was welcomed not only by an honor guard but also by performers dancing in national costume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXzWJ_Lb_sA similar reception was given to the president of Turkey and the acting president of Myanmar. Performers also danced at the arrival ceremonies for the leaders of Egypt, Pakistan, Nepal, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. This was not an exclusive gesture toward Lukashenko.
Women in national costume did not perform in only two cases: when Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived, greeted solely by an honor guard, and when UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived.
