Tianjin, China, August 30, 2025
The US, China, and Russia are in the spotlight as PM Modi of India meets with PM Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, a gathering that is being closely watched by the world. The summit in Tianjin, China, marks PM Modi’s first visit to the country in seven years and is seen as a crucial moment for diplomacy amid rising global tensions and the ongoing trade war with the US.
Headlines
* Crucial Bilateral Meetings: PM Modi is scheduled to hold separate meetings with both President Xi and President Putin on the sidelines of the summit, with discussions expected to focus on trade, economic cooperation, and regional stability.
* Global South Unity: The summit is being leveraged by China and Russia as a platform to project themselves as a stabilizing force and to rally the Global South against perceived US influence.
* Rebuilding Sino-Indian Ties: The meeting between Modi and Xi is particularly significant, as both nations seek to normalize relations that have been strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes.
* US Tariff Tensions: The summit unfolds against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on India, which have added new urgency to New Delhi’s diplomatic efforts with its Eurasian partners.
PM Modi arrived in Tianjin today, where he was welcomed by members of the Indian community. In a statement ahead of his visit, Modi emphasized the importance of India and China working together to bring stability to the global economic order. The visit is seen as a major diplomatic effort to reset ties with China, with both sides having already initiated a series of measures to ease tensions, including resuming direct flights and reopening border trade.
The meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is also a key part of the visit. The two leaders are expected to discuss the impact of the US tariffs on their bilateral trade and to exchange views on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has maintained a delicate balancing act throughout the conflict, continuing to purchase record levels of oil from Russia while also seeking to play a more balanced diplomatic role.
The SCO summit, which has now expanded to ten permanent members, is seen as an increasingly important forum for diplomatic and economic cooperation among Eurasian nations. For China and Russia, the summit is a chance to show a united front and to push back against Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation. For India, it is an opportunity to strengthen its ties with two of the world’s major powers while also addressing its own pressing economic and security concerns.
