The summit of the ten -member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) heads started in Tianjin, China today. The trio of Russia India and China is in discussion nowadays. In such a situation, Prime Minister Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared light moments before the full session of the SCO Summit, whose pictures went viral on social media.
President Putin and Prime Minister Modi embraced each other and greeted each other warmly, after which they moved towards the stage for the family photo of SCO members. The conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin took place before his bilateral meeting, which is going to be held after the full session.
Explain that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other leaders of the organization, started a one-day discussion to decide the future direction of the group. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the leaders.
The 25th summit with a huge banquet organized by Xi on Sunday night was formally begins. Others including Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended it.
This year’s summit is said to be the largest summit of the SCO group, as China, who is the president of the organization, has invited 20 foreign leaders, including UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres and heads of 10 international organizations, to attend the SCO Plus Summit this year.
On Monday, the leaders will address the meeting and present their future approach to the organization.
Modi’s speech is being eagerly monitored by US President Donald Trump’s tariff war and the backdrop of the Indian Prime Minister’s meeting with Xi Jinping on Sunday. It is believed that this meeting will prepare a new roadmap for the relationship between the two countries.
In his reception feast address, Xi said that the SCO has a major responsibility to protect regional peace and stability and promote the development of various countries in the world of increasing uncertainties and quick changes.
Addressing the banquet, Xi expressed confidence that the combined efforts of all the parties will be fully successful and the SCO would definitely play a bigger role and get more progress.
He said that this would contribute even more in promoting unity and cooperation between member countries, united the power of the global South and further progressing the human civilization.
The SCO established in Shanghai in June 2001 has increased from six founding members to a family of 26 countries, including 10 members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners, which are spread over Asia, Europe and Africa.
Along with major emerging markets and members of developing countries like China, Russia and India, the SCO represents almost half of the world’s population and one-fourth of the global economy.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Sunday, “The Prime Minister will address the full session of the summit, where he will underline India’s approach to promoting regional cooperation under the SCO. After this meeting, he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which he will leave for India.”
Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit of SCO leaders, during which the two leaders welcomed positive speed and stable progress in bilateral relations since their previous meeting in Kazan during the BRICS Summit in October 2024.
Both of them emphasized that both countries are development partners, not rivals and their differences should not change into controversies. He called for a stable relationship and cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity between India and China, which is essential for a multiproof world and multipolar Asia, along with the growth and development of the two countries, as well as the 21st century trends.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of peace and harmony in the border areas for continuous development of bilateral relations.
The SCO has ten members. Apart from India, these include Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In addition, there are many dialogues partners and supervisors. India has been a member of the SCO since 2017, and has been an observer since 2005.
During its membership period, India chaired the SCO Government Council in 2020 and SCO State Council from 2022 to 2023.