OREANDA-NEWS Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana on July 3-4, he has a number of bilateral meetings planned with leaders of other countries, Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.

"The President of Russia will soon participate in the SCO summit, a very influential and important organization for us. Astana, Kazakhstan, is hosting this summit on July 3-4. As part of this major event, it is planned to hold a number of bilateral meetings with the leaders of the member countries and invited states," Ushakov said, speaking at the opening of the Primakov readings on Tuesday.