Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday arrived in Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, marking his first visit to China in seven years.
During his visit, he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders. “Landed in Tianjin, China. Looking forward to deliberations at the SCO Summit and meeting various world leaders,” PM Modi said in a post on X. The Prime Minister landed in China after concluding his two-day visit to Japan.
The SCO summit is crucial for India, especially after the US imposed 50 percent tariffs, including a 25 percent tariff on India for buying Russian crude oil. PM Modi has emphasized the importance of stable India-China relations for regional peace and prosperity. In a recent interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, he stated that “stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China can have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity.”
The meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping will be closely watched, given the current tensions between the two nations. PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to respecting sovereignty, international law, and peaceful resolution of disputes, particularly in the context of China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
The SCO Summit also marks a significant moment in India-Pakistan relations. PM Modi will share the stage with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which will be the first time since Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
Operation Sindoor was India’s precision military operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which struck nine terror camps and facilities across Pakistani Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
PM Modi has sharpened his rhetoric against Pakistan, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. On India’s Independence Day, he declared that India would no longer tolerate “nuclear blackmail” and warned that any future aggression would be met with a response on India’s own terms. He also criticized the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it unjust, and pledged that rivers originating in India must serve Indian farmers rather than flow to Pakistan.
For Sharif, the SCO Summit is an attempt to reinforce ties with China, Islamabad’s closest partner. However, his position is weakened due to Pakistan’s financial crisis and the political fallout of Operation Sindoor. His arrival in Tianjin stands in stark contrast to Modi’s recent deals with Japan and the UK.
The SCO Summit takes place amidst global tensions, with the India-Pakistan conflict and the US-China trade war having significant implications for regional and global politics. The summit will provide a platform for world leaders to discuss pressing issues and work towards finding solutions to global challenges.
The meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping, as well as the presence of other world leaders, will be closely watched for any signs of shifting alliances or emerging partnerships. The outcome of the summit will have significant implications for regional and global politics, and will likely shape the future of international relations.