Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to engage in a significant round of talks in Tianjin on Sunday, marking the first meeting between the two leaders on Chinese soil in seven years. The discussions come at a moment of shifting global alignments, as India navigates turbulence in its relations with the United States over recent trade and tariff disputes.
The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which brings together leaders from across Eurasia. Both Modi and Xi are expected to address a wide spectrum of bilateral and regional issues, ranging from boundary tensions and trade prospects to broader questions of security and cooperation within the SCO framework. Official sources have hinted that the two leaders could hold multiple rounds of dialogue during the summit, underscoring the weight of the discussions. Their last interaction was in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia, at the BRICS summit.
Before departing for India on Monday, Prime Minister Modi is also slated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, further highlighting New Delhi’s balancing act between global powers. The trilateral optics of meetings with Xi and Putin are being closely watched in the context of Washington’s tariff measures, which have strained New Delhi’s ties with the United States. Analysts suggest India may seek to deepen engagements with China and Russia at a time when its trade strategies are being tested by Western economic pressures.
The SCO summit officially began with a state banquet hosted by President Xi on Sunday evening, attended by leaders of the 10-member bloc, including Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and China. This year’s summit is the largest in the organization’s history, with an additional “SCO Plus” format drawing around 20 foreign leaders. High-profile attendees include Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal’s KP Sharma Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.
For Beijing, the summit carries domestic and international significance. Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin earlier described it as one of the most important diplomatic events in China this year. Xi is expected to present his vision for strengthening the “Shanghai Spirit” a guiding philosophy of the bloc emphasizing mutual trust, equality, and cooperation and to outline how the SCO can respond to pressing regional and global challenges.
Beyond the summit, many visiting leaders are expected to remain in China to attend the massive military parade scheduled in Beijing on September 3. The parade, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the end of World War II, is set to showcase China’s military prowess and its role in shaping historical memory.
For India, Modi’s presence at the SCO and his bilateral meetings reflect both continuity and caution. While New Delhi remains committed to strengthening multilateral platforms, it is also carefully positioning itself amid great-power rivalries. As Modi sits down with Xi after years of diplomatic distance, the outcome of their conversation could have long-term implications not only for India-China relations but also for the evolving balance of power in Asia.