Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to China for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting, which begins Saturday in Tianjin.
In a post on X, Modi confirmed that India will continue to play “an active and constructive role” within the SCO framework, working with member states to address shared security and economic challenges.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. The grouping focuses on regional security, counterterrorism, trade, and connectivity.
Modi’s meetings with Xi and Putin come at a sensitive time, as India navigates strained relations with Beijing following border tensions, while maintaining strong energy and defense ties with Moscow despite Western pressure over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Analysts say the Modi-Xi talks will be closely watched for signs of progress on resolving the border standoff, while discussions with Putin are expected to focus on trade, energy cooperation, and defense.
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The summit will also bring together leaders from across Eurasia, underlining the SCO’s growing role as a counterbalance to Western-led alliances in global affairs.
