Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, the host city of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
According to sources from India’s External Affairs Ministry, the talks were planned to last around 20 minutes, focusing on the overall framework of India-China relations and the current geopolitical situation.
Tianjin is decked out in lights, flags, and banners as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit 2025 kicks off. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, his first to China in over seven years, has drawn international attention.
PM Modi posted on social media: “Landed in Tianjin, China. Looking forward to deliberations at the SCO Summit and meeting various world leaders.” The Prime Minister was welcomed at his hotel with Indian classical music and dance, symbolizing goodwill between the two nations. The city, normally known for markets and river views, now has a festive, summit-ready atmosphere.
#WATCH | Tianjin, China: A group of Odissi dancers gives a glimpse into their performance. They performed to welcome PM Narendra Modi to the city. pic.twitter.com/f6GLNoUEPh
— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2025
The Modi-Xi Meeting: Focus of the Summit
While the SCO agenda covers security, economy, digital tech, and climate, global focus is on the first major dialogue between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping in years. Their last years of limited interaction were marred by the Ladakh standoff, trade tensions, and recent India-US tariff issues.
Before his arrival, PM Modi told The Yomiuri Shimbun: “Given the current volatility in the world economy, it is also important for India and China, as two major economies, to work together to bring stability to the world economic order.”
Officials expect discussions on economic ties and trust-building, following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. Recent meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi resulted in agreements on border peace, trade reopening, and resuming flights. Observers hope for substance beyond symbolic handshakes.
SCO 25th Anniversary: Diplomacy Beyond Two Nations
The summit marks the SCO’s 25th year, bringing together over 20 leaders, including Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian, and other key figures from Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the UN.
Global crises like Ukraine war and West Asian tensions make energy and food security central topics. For China, hosting showcases stability and leadership; for India, it is an opportunity to influence major regional debates on digital transformation, terrorism, and economic partnerships.
Also Read: SCO Summit 2025: Over 20 Nations to Attend, Putin and Modi on List
Why Tianjin Matters to the World
The SCO, once a security bloc for China, Russia, and Central Asia, now includes India, Iran, and soon Belarus, with observers from Southeast Asia and Africa. Tianjin’s summit tests if the “NATO of the East” can deliver on promises like joint action on terrorism, climate change, and AI, despite rivalries.
Expected Outcomes: Real or Symbolic?
Leaders are likely to issue a joint declaration on security, trade, and climate, signaling Eurasia’s intention to chart its own course. There is hope for progress on border management and people-to-people exchanges, though deep mistrust and national priorities may limit breakthroughs.
The city’s transformation mirrors global anticipation: hopeful, impressive, and uncertain. The world watches Tianjin to see if the meetings between PM Modi and Xi Jinping will lead to real diplomatic progress or remain largely ceremonial.
Also Read: PM Modi’s China Visit SCO Summit 2025 to Shape India’s Global Strategy: What’s the Agenda
