And a fisherman on the north coast. She, lunk, of fighting for their livelihoods at the time they can barely afford to power their boats. Ah, im british minded. You welcome to dw news, aisha. Glad you could join us. A series of meetings involving russia and china begin today at a regional summit. But both countries hope will challenge a u. S. Lead International Order being held in that was big city of somebody and the leaders meeting of the so called Shanghai Corporation organization takes place today and tomorrow. The group comprises 8 members, including china, russia, india, and the Central Asian republics of kazakhstan. Gig is done tajikistan and others. Iran just applied to be a member. The su was formed some 20 years back and is a political, economic, and strategic grouping of nations. But russia and china are hoping it could be more, namely, a counter wait to a western lead world order. Take, for instance, what kremlin Foreign Policy advisor eulley or shock of said earlier this week i caught, the su, offers a real alternative to western centric organizations. And the chinese secretary general of the organization agrees, boise there tacoma, i think, given the profound global changes that we are witnessing, members of the International Community who are expecting a new type of International Relations and goal based on Mutual Respect based on equity based on justice and also based on Mutual Benefit america, they recognize that the essence of the s c o, charter and the shanghai spirit reflect this new type of International Relations. County Council Meeting between the chinese and russian president is part of this attempt to define a new type of international emissions. Both leaders are meeting of the se or summit today. They met last time in february this year ahead of the beijing winter olympics. Thats where they announced or no limits partnership between the 2 countries. The meeting today is expected to build on that partnership, especially in light of the recent reverses in ukraine. Faced by russia. Youd hear a shuttle heads deductibles, Moscow Bureau and he offered a vis assessment from the law firm captain regal. What are moscow . Bureau operates . China hasnt only been important for russia since february 24th. But already since 2014, when russia and next gray mia all ready back then, there was suddenly a beek rift in relations between moscow and to the west. And that was at the moment when the russia recognized the importance of china for itself. Now, china is supposed to compensate economically for everything that the russians are suddenly missing because of the impact of western sanctions. And ive got some context on this from read standers. Shes a journalist for Radio Free Europe and covers china and its influence in the eraser region. Read, theres lots to unpack here. Lets start with the ties between china and russia. First, are we looking at both countries reaffirming their nor limits partnership agreed to back in february . I think a big part of this is about reaffirming the time between basic and moscow that certainly the message that she and guten are hoping to send to the world and especially to the west. But it mustnt there, there the discussion about it, no limits. Partnership. I think weve all learned in the last 7 months of war back there is actually limits. So as much as china, how, you know, stood by russia throughout the war and providing some diplomatic support and also, you know, bought out things like cheap brush in energy that didnt put onto the market and supporting the ration to call you back the way china has also been very cautious not to explicitly endorsed the invasion of ukraine, and also had just generally tried to walk away from some of the spider appointment to avoid secondary sanctions on its own economy. So i think were going to see you strategy in a line bill. But the other methods that they want to ended that basic mock out, their ties have not been broken, even if on culture scrutiny that id be strained. And i wonder if you see a demonstration of this, the se, meeting itself. Im the reason i ask is because we had said to general, john means saying that the, if the represents a new type of International Relations, the kremlin, has talked of an alternative to western centric organizations. Ill be there foreseeing the beginnings of a new counter to the west and global order. Well, thats certainly the, the main force and kind of the glue that stick beijing and mocked out together is idea of trying to create an alternative to the western lag order that most people would be familiar with. Whether that can succeed. I think its really the question that that hand here is clearly the fact that she had chosen the the 1st part of his 1st trip abroad since january 2020 on please shows what a big deal it is debating and especially him in visual and as a leader, and so i think the wine thats going to be difficult for she and for food and is you know, how they can deal with the shadow that being taught by the ukraine boy over the broader goal of trying to show the alternative world order because the follow from the war has heard your asia quite significant. Especially if we look at the Central Asian country. There are connies which have been quite tied to russia generally. And theyve also watched the russian revenge of them and naturalism with rise in the treatment of ukraine. And that also sparkling diet, even theories that perhaps they to be in particular the case because its been, its actually been done. Prod, saw me the diplomatic up between the russians and the cows that so its going to be difficult for days. And tonight, everyone under one banner, which is generally, i think, a difficulty of the budget. Maybe there might be some kind of unity around the idea of pushing back against the left, in my order, lot of rivalry and divisions between them. Lets talk about the Central Asian countries when you brought it up with traditionally they were closer to russia than they were to china. And then the fall out of the ukraine war, are they looking at perhaps something coming from china they were, do they want to be closer to china as a buffer against russia . Is that what they look for . I think definitely. I mean, if youre, if youre looking at your date right now, and russia has, where you actions in ukraine, both the invasion and then also just looking long term as stated at the economy. Theyre obviously looking for alternatives. You know, the european union, the united states, have been in the bills from that part of the world for quite some time. We have seen some diplomatic outreach to the middle east and especially to turkey from central asia and in the last 6 months. But i think china is really the big ticket, 2nd largest economy. It already been building out the economic and political ties and central asia per decade. And china, its stick knowing that it wants to continue to deep and grow that relationship. And thats a big part about what is it all about actually, but its still, its going to be tougher beijing to do the straddle bit line again between how do we show that we are in the, you know, quote unquote, know, limited partnership with the russian and at the same time, show the Central Asian that we can look after their interest and protect their sovereignty, which perhaps in some ways and Capitol Point of view might be kind of contradictory points that the other stage briefly read. Is this an opportunity for china to increase its influence in central asia without a doubt, i would say before this summit, china had been doing so. And this is been a back, you know, just gasoline on a fire that burns quite strongly for, for a long time. We see that a lot of interest across the region to bring in chinese investments and try and deepen those ties. And i think, you know, china is going to have more than a share of opportunity to do so. We leave it there for the time being all as a person talking to read standards from Radio Free Europe. Thanks so much. Thank you. Ah, in sri lanka, a huge communications tower, financed by a chinese investment, has opened to tourists for the 1st time. The 350 meter, tall, green, and purple colombo daughters tower was built at a cost of a 130000000. 00. It has been blake by corruption fame since construction began in 2012 under former president. My hinder raj. Bucks up. The state on Management Company said they had decided to open its Observation Deck to visitors from thursday to and ticket revenue to minimize losses. It opens at a time the tree lanka is in the debt. So if an economic crisis, the costs of fuel in the country has multiplied by a factor of 18 hitting local Industries Like fishing. Our next report highlights a prime example. Fishermen who cant afford to power their boats. Its sunrise on the island of mana and local fishermen assaulting their nets for the day ahead. What . Where did they some of the lucky ones. Many fishing boats here a stuck on dry land. Unable to go to see because they dont have enough fuel i bet everything is difficult at the moment. Is no kerosene. Theres no food at home. We only get work if we come to the sea. Otherwise we dont get any. I was starving. I with the kerosene to run these engines used to be cheap. Less than 100. 00 rupees elisa from the co operative now its costing up to 18 times that on the black market. Sure, lang, his economic crisis is hitting this community hard. One london, the regular level before we had kerosene. So there was no issue. We went out to see right now because of difficulties in getting kerosene. We have to struggle and ro instead one thats the only problem is the other issue there. Yes, its backbreaking work for a daily wage thats simply not enough to live on. Todays catch wont be enough to support the many in this village depend on fishing. The lack of boats on the water means theres not enough work to go around. I mean, would it mean a be, wasnt for the past 3 months theres been no fishing and so people are really struggling with so many poverty stricken families have been forced to leave and go to india. Weve told this all to the government. So many times we still havent been given anything really. Im going to be going to the governments as a key refineries now back online, and my now should be getting more kerosene soon. For now, the, this fishing village is still waiting for the tide to turn. For sure, lank, his trouble economy. And that does it for today. Theres of course, some more stories from the region and particularly about the economic crisis in sri lanka on our website. D deborah dot com, forward slash e share. And as ever, you can follow us on facebook and twitter back tomorrow at the same time. Well see you then go back. Ah, do you like it . Do you want it . Okay, then buckle up, put the pedal to the metal and lets ride with read on d w a ah, the leaders of china and russia meet and it was pakistan. Well look at what there are no limits. Partnership has meant in recent months for trade in energy and where it could be leading also on our show gas prices are on the rise again in europe. Well take a closer look at e. U plans to provide relief to households by tapping into utility revenues. And well visit norway, where a summer drought is having an outside effect on one of europes Biggest Energy suppliers. Hello and welcome to the show. Im seeing busy in berlin, russian president Vladimir Putin and chinas she, jim ping, our meeting and his back as dan today, had of a regional summit touted as a challenge to western global influence. On the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization comes at a crucial time. She who hasnt left china since the beginning of the pandemic wants to shore up his credentials as a global statesman, the head of the communist Party Congress next month. The russian president , meanwhile, wants to show that his country wont be isolated internationally. Spotlighting, its lyrical and economic ties with china, which have lately been close at china accounts for nearly a 5th of russias foreign trade