SCO Summit 2025: Modi Lands In Tianjin, Xi-Putin Meetings On Agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in China after concluding his visit to Japan, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. Modi is in Tianjin to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. His visit comes amid a recent improvement in India-China relations, which had been strained since the 2020 border clashes.

The backdrop of the visit is also significant. New Delhi has faced criticism from the United States over its continued purchase of Russian oil during the Ukraine war. In response, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, raising the total duty to 50 per cent.

SCO Summit Agenda

The SCO Summit in Tianjin will be held on August 31 and September 1, with a welcome banquet on Sunday and the leaders' summit scheduled for Monday. India has been a member of the SCO since 2017, and Modi is expected to use this platform to highlight India's firm position against cross-border terrorism. His intervention will carry weight in the context of recent India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

Bilateral Meetings

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to review ties and discuss steps toward normalisation. Additionally, Modi is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that several bilateral engagements are being arranged. "There will be a number of bilateral meetings that will be organised on the sidelines. We are still finalising those meetings and will keep you updated on the proceedings," he said during a briefing on the prime minister's visits to Japan and China.