Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Leaders’ Summit held in Tianjin on Monday, September 1, marking India’s significant diplomatic engagement amid rising global trade tensions. This visit is PM Modi’s first to China since the 2020 border clashes and included crucial bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the summit, a candid video showing Modi, Xi, and Putin engaging in an informal conversation surfaced on social media, drawing attention to the high-level interactions. PM Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping was particularly noteworthy as it was their first discussion on Chinese soil in over seven years. Both leaders agreed that the long-standing boundary dispute should not define India-China relations and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in trade, connectivity, and cultural exchanges. Modi also invited China to participate in the BRICS 2026 summit in India, an invitation Beijing has reportedly accepted.

Later in the day, PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting comes against the backdrop of the United States imposing a steep 50% tariff on Indian exports, citing continued imports of Russian crude oil. This tariff is reportedly the highest imposed on any Asian economy so far.

In his address at the SCO plenary session, PM Modi underlined India’s commitment to regional cooperation under the SCO framework. The session’s overall tone reflected criticism of global “bullying” and calls for a fairer global governance system. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his remarks, denounced “Cold War mentality” and bloc politics while urging countries to safeguard multilateral trade. Following the session, PM Modi shared on social media, “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.”