Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased diplomatic camaraderie in style at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, arriving in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s iconic Hongqi L5 and departing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in his armoured Aurus Senat.
The Hongqi L5, a limousine synonymous with China’s top leadership, carried PM Modi during his two-day visit to China, symbolizing the close ties between New Delhi and Beijing despite recent geopolitical tensions. The same model had transported President Xi during his 2019 visit to India, making the gesture a subtle nod to mutual respect.
Following the summit proceedings, PM Modi joined President Putin in the Aurus Senat for their bilateral discussion. Sources revealed that Mr Putin personally waited for nearly ten minutes at the venue to travel together with PM Modi to their meeting location. The two leaders continued their conversation inside the car for almost an hour before formal talks commenced.
“After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful,” PM Modi posted on X, accompanied by a photograph of the two leaders inside the Aurus Senat. Their official bilateral meeting lasted 45 minutes, further cementing India-Russia ties.
The timing of the encounter is notable, coming amid US criticism of India’s energy purchases from Russia. President Donald Trump has accused India of indirectly funding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and has imposed tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy on oil imports from Russia.
New Delhi has described these tariffs as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” emphasizing that India’s energy imports are guided by market dynamics and the nation’s imperative to secure energy for 1.4 billion citizens. The Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed India’s stance, warning that the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.
The ceremonial use of the Hongqi L5 and Aurus Senat underscored the personal rapport between PM Modi and the two major leaders, reflecting the subtle interplay of diplomacy, symbolism, and strategic engagement at the SCO summit.