Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday was seen sharing lighthearted and warm exchanges with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin. The three leaders exchanged handshakes, hugs, and laughter, creating a rare display of camaraderie among Asia’s top powers.
Posting photographs of the moments on X, Modi wrote, “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.” In another post featuring his bilateral meeting with Putin, he remarked, “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” A video from the event, widely circulated online, showed Modi pulling Putin and Xi together in a symbolic gesture of unity, underscoring the diplomatic significance of their gathering.
The SCO’s 25th Heads of State Council meeting marked a milestone for the organisation. The summit was inaugurated on Sunday evening with a lavish banquet hosted by Xi Jinping, attended by Modi, Putin, and other dignitaries. This year’s gathering is the largest in the SCO’s history, with more than 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations — including UN Secretary-General António Guterres — joining under the “SCO Plus” format during China’s presidency.
In his banquet speech, Xi Jinping called on the bloc to shoulder greater responsibility in preserving regional peace and stability at a time of global uncertainty. He stressed that the SCO must enhance solidarity among its members, expand cooperation with the Global South, and contribute to advancing human civilisation. His remarks set the tone for the summit’s focus on strengthening multilateralism and shaping a more inclusive international order.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established in June 2001, has grown from its six founding members into a 26-nation grouping. Today, it includes 10 full members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners spread across Asia, Europe, and Africa. With China, Russia, and India as its core powers, the SCO represents nearly half the global population and about one-quarter of the world’s economy.
For Modi, Putin, and Xi, their unity on display in Tianjin was not just symbolic — it underscored the strategic importance of collaboration in addressing regional challenges and reshaping the global balance.
