Russian President Vladimir Putin waited for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 10 minutes outside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit venue in Tianjin, China, to travel together for their scheduled bilateral meeting. In a rare display of camaraderie, both leaders shared a ride in Putin’s AURUS limousine, engaging in an extensive 45-minute discussion before the formal talks began.

During the official bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin focused on strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. Discussions covered key sectors, including economic, financial, and energy cooperation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the leaders also exchanged views on the latest developments concerning Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi shared a photo of the car ride on his X handle, stating, “After the SCO Summit proceedings, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.”

Notably, India-Russia bilateral trade reached a record high of $68.7 billion in FY 2024-25, underlining the growing economic ties between the two nations. PM Modi also held a separate meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit. These talks come amid global economic challenges, including the ongoing tariff war initiated by US President Donald Trump against India.