Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with an outpouring of warmth and pride from the Indian community as he landed at Tianjin’s Binhai International Airport on Saturday for his two-day official visit to China. The visit marks his first trip to the country in seven years, coinciding with the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” echoed as members of the diaspora waved the tricolour, welcoming the Indian leader with enthusiastic handshakes and smiles. Senior officials from both India and China were also present at the airport to formally receive the Prime Minister.
Later in the evening, PM Modi witnessed a cultural performance by Chinese artists who have been trained in Indian classical traditions. From the resonating strings of the sitar and santoor to the rhythmic tabla beats, the program highlighted the cultural bridge between the two nations. Dancers performed Indian classical forms, reflecting years of dedication to learning from Indian gurus.
Zhang Jinghu, one of the performers, described it as an “honour” to present Odissi before PM Modi. “Classical dance is like an ocean deep, vast, and filled with stories. I have been learning since childhood and teaching it to students in China. They love the art form and want to dive deeper into it,” she said, expressing her excitement at performing for the Indian Prime Minister for the very first time.
PM Modi’s participation in the SCO Summit, beginning Sunday, holds geopolitical weight as he is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines. The summit comes at a delicate time for global trade, especially after the United States enforced 50 per cent tariffs of which India has been particularly impacted with a 25 per cent duty on Russian oil imports.
India and China, meanwhile, have sought to ease strained relations by agreeing to resume direct flights, reopen cross-border trade routes such as Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La, and Nathu La, and make visa facilitation smoother for tourists, businesses, and media professionals.
With 10 member states including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran—the SCO has emerged as a significant platform for regional dialogue and cooperation. For India, this year’s summit not only underscores its growing role in Eurasian geopolitics but also its commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, a sentiment reflected in the rousing welcome PM Modi received upon arrival.