Putin and Modi Meet in China as Xi Jinping Hosts Summit Amid Global Tensions
Beijing, China – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian prime Minister narendra Modi arrived in China today to attend a summit convened by Chinese President Xi Jinping, a gathering taking place against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical competition and shifting global alliances. The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) brings together leaders from across Eurasia, including Iranian President Masoud Pezishkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking the largest such gathering since the bloc’s founding in 2001.
The summit occurs as China and Russia position the SCO as a potential counterweight to the NATO military alliance. It also follows a recent increase in U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, imposed as a response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The presence of Putin and Modi underscores the complex dynamics at play as these nations navigate a world increasingly divided between competing power centers.
During a meeting with Xi Jinping,Modi stated India is committed to advancing relations with China based on mutual trust,despite ongoing rivalry and a deadly 2020 border clash. “The interests of 2.8 billion inhabitants of the two countries are related to our cooperation.This will also open the way for the welfare of all humanity,” modi told Xi.
The Tianjin Guest House hosted bilateral negotiations, with security personnel present throughout the area. Official SCO posters promoting “mutual benefit” and “equality” lined the streets, largely closed to traffic. Putin is expected to use the summit to discuss the ukraine conflict with Erdogan and the iranian president, and also Iran’s nuclear program. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is also reportedly in Beijing to attend a military parade alongside the summit.