New Delhi: The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Bishkek featured a notable gathering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Their presence on the same stage has significant implications for international diplomacy, particularly as India prepares to host the upcoming BRICS summit in the coming weeks. This convergence of major Eurasian powers at the SCO underscores the growing importance of multilateral dialogues in shaping regional and global dynamics.
The 26th SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital was held as the organisation celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Bishkek meeting covered issues ranging from transport and energy to terrorism and digital technology. The SCO summit also came as US President Donald Trump has been using tariffs and other economic measures to put pressure on countries around the world. India used the summit to engage with Russia and China while keeping its own priorities at the centre of its foreign policy. Modi and Putin’s meeting came as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, making their talks an important part of the SCO summit. The prime minister reiterated India’s position that the war poses a serious threat to the world and to humanity. Meanwhile, Putin reaffirmed the importance of India’s relationship with Russia. The two countries discussed cooperation in areas including defence and energy, with the Russian president expressing support for stronger cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow.
The grouping now has 10 member countries, including India, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran, and represents around 3.4 billion people and about a quarter of the world’s GDP.
He said India has always supported peace and called for the dispute to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy.
A meeting between PM Modi and Xi could become one of the most anticipated meetings around the summit. The Chinese president is expected to travel to New Delhi for the September 12-13 meeting, which would mark his first visit to India in seven years.
