Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, signaling renewed engagement among the three leaders even as Washington slapped steep tariffs on Indian exports.
Sharing photos of the informal huddle on X, Modi posted: “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.” Another image showed him warmly embracing Putin, captioned: “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” Modi is scheduled to hold formal bilateral talks with the Russian leader on Monday.
Always a delight to meet President Putin! pic.twitter.com/XtDSyWEmtw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025
Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit. pic.twitter.com/K1eKVoHCvv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025
Later, Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping for a bilateral exchange, his first since the 2020 border clash. Stressing the need to “move forward with mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” Modi said last year’s discussions in Kazan had given “positive direction” to ties. He noted that disengagement along the border had created “an atmosphere of peace and stability,” adding: “The interests of 2.8 billion people are linked to our cooperation. This will also pave the way for the welfare of humanity.”
• चीन ने गलवान घाटी में हमारे 20 जांबाज सैनिकों की जान ले ली
• ऑपरेशन सिंदूर के वक्त चीन खुलकर पाकिस्तान का साथ दे रहा था
• चीन ने पाकिस्तान को लाइव अपडेट दिएचीन की इन नापाक हरकतों पर नरेंद्र मोदी ने सख्त कदम उठाया. मुस्कराते हुए चीन के राष्ट्रपति से हाथ मिलाया. pic.twitter.com/fDquMqXwTi
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 31, 2025
Xi, echoing a conciliatory tone, described India and China as “development partners rather than threats.” Quoting Chinese wisdom, he suggested that the “dragon and the elephant” must dance together, framing cooperation as the only viable path.
Modi’s visit marks his first trip to China in seven years, underscoring the summit’s weight as Beijing hosts leaders from 20 nations, including Russia, Iran, and Central Asian republics. The SCO, a 10-member bloc, comes together at a turbulent moment — with Russia’s war in Ukraine, Israel’s conflict in Gaza, and the US move to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods adding to the geopolitical churn.
