Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening attended the official reception of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. He was warmly received by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
At the venue, PM Modi exchanged greetings with President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan before joining fellow world leaders for the traditional group photograph. Russian President Vladimir Putin was also present for the group photo. The formal sessions of the summit are scheduled to begin on September 1.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a series of bilateral meetings, including an important discussion with President Xi. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders emphasised the significant role of the Indian and Chinese economies in supporting global trade stability. They also spoke about boosting people-to-people exchanges by resuming direct flights, easing visa rules, and continuing the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
The MEA added that both leaders underlined the need to take a strategic and political approach to strengthen trade and investment ties while working to narrow the trade deficit. They welcomed the steady progress in relations since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024, reiterating that India and China are partners in development, not rivals, and must ensure their differences do not escalate into disputes.
PM Modi also extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the 2026 BRICS Summit in India. Xi expressed his appreciation for the invitation and assured Beijing’s support for India’s upcoming presidency of BRICS, which New Delhi will assume from Brazil.
On the sidelines of the SCO gathering, PM Modi met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s acting President and military chief. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across areas such as defence and security, border management, development projects, and border trade. PM Modi highlighted Myanmar’s importance under India’s 'Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East’, and Indo-Pacific strategies He also stressed that elections in Myanmar should be fair, inclusive, and consultative, reaffirming India’s support for a Myanmar-led peace process.
Upon his arrival in Tianjin on Saturday, the Prime Minister was accorded a red carpet welcome at Binhai International Airport, where senior Chinese and Indian officials received him. Members of the Indian community in China greeted him enthusiastically with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram'.
This SCO summit carries added weight for India as it comes in the backdrop of the United States imposing 50 percent tariffs, including a 25 per cent duty on Indian imports of Russian crude oil.
With inputs from ANI
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