Russian President Vladimir Putin disembarks from the plane as he arrives in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Uzbek city of Samarkand for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.

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Putin is set to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as well as a number of other leaders at the event on Thursday and Friday.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomes China's President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Reuters

The meeting of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization comes at a time when Putin is isolated abroad following his invasion of Ukraine. Beijing's relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India are strained by disputes over technology, security and territory.

The event in the ancient sultanate of Samarkand is part of Xi's first foreign trip since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic 2 1/2 years ago, underscoring Beijing's desire to assert itself as a regional power.

Xi was greeted at the Samarkand airport by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported. Musicians played a fanfare on karnays, a traditional wind instrument that resembles a long trumpet.

Putin and Xi were due to meet one-on-one and discuss Ukraine, according to the Russian president's foreign affairs adviser.