The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)is holding its first summit since India and Pakistan joined the bloc which is widely seem by observers as a means for blocking American influence in Central Asia.

The founding members of the alliance are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

XI Takes Swipe at G-7 Summit In SCO Remarks

The summit is being held in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

XI Takes Swipe at G-7 Summit In SCO Remarks

Chinese President Xi Jingping told the group in opening remarks Sunday, "We should reject selfish, short-sighted, narrow and closed-off policies.We must maintain the rules of the World Trade Organization, support the multilateral trade system and build an open global economy."

XI Takes Swipe at G-7 Summit In SCO Remarks

Political analysts see the Chinese leader's remarks as a thinly veiled reference to the chaos at the recent G-7 summit in Canada where the U.S. and its allies were divided by escalating trade tensions.

After leaving the G-7 meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump described Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "meek and mild" and "dishonest & weak."

Trump also withdrew his endorsement of the G-7 summit's communique.