Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, starting on Sunday. The summit is seen as a display of solidarity against the trade tariffs initiated by the United States against China and India. Despite this, sources indicate that no trilateral meeting involving Modi, Putin, and Jinping will take place.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China on Saturday, receiving a warm reception. This visit marks his first to China since 2018, and it is viewed as a step towards improving relations following the 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley between India and China.
SCO Summit Amidst US Tariff Disputes
The SCO summit, a regional security group, is unfolding as various countries navigate US President Donald Trump’s trade wars and tariff threats. India, for instance, faces a 50% tariff. Russia is dealing with sanctions, while China is threatened with a 200% tariff. Trump warned of these tariffs if Beijing restricts the export of rare-earth magnets.
In this context, the SCO has become a key platform for Jinping, Putin, and India, who advocate for a multipolar world, a concept the US has consistently opposed.
Chinese authorities have described the upcoming summit as the largest SCO summit to date. Xi Jinping aims to showcase China as a stable and influential alternative at a time when the US is disrupting alliances around the world.
Modi, Putin, and Jinping to Share a Platform
The summit will also provide an opportunity for Putin to meet with China and India, key consumers of Russian oil. Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on India for its purchase of Russian energy and defense products, while China is not subject to such tariffs. Prime Minister Modi has resisted pressure from the Trump administration to stop buying Russian oil, a move the US claims supports Putin’s “war machine” in Ukraine.
Before the visit to China, Putin praised the relationship with Beijing, calling it a “stabilizing force.” He told Xinhua News Agency that Russia and China share a vision of “building a just, multipolar world order.”
Attendees of the SCO Summit 2025
The SCO, including China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, controls a significant share of the world’s energy resources and represents nearly 40% of the global population.
The summit will see participation from nations like India and Pakistan, despite existing political rivalries. Both countries’ prime ministers will attend, marking their first meeting since the Pulwama terrorist attack and India’s Operation Vajra.
Prime Minister Modi did not attend last year’s summit in Kazakhstan. However, he will participate in the Tianjin summit, which occurs amid strained relations between New Delhi and Washington, following Trump’s actions, including the 50% tariff and growing ties with Pakistan.
Chinese officials have announced that delegations from 16 SCO partner and observer countries will attend the summit. These include Cambodia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey. Beijing has also extended invitations to Southeast Asian leaders, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to be present.
While Modi, Putin, and Jinping will be present, the US will not. However, analysts suggest that Trump’s actions are likely to be a subject of discussion.