Xi Hosts Modi and Putin in Global South Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host over 20 world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1. The event is being projected as a major show of Global South solidarity amid intensifying global power rivalries.
Modi’s Return to China After Seven Years
Prime Minister Modi’s visit marks his first trip to China in more than seven years. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been strained since the 2020 border clashes, and the summit is expected to offer an opportunity for cautious engagement while advancing multilateral cooperation.
Strategic Messaging Through Optics
Observers note that the optics of Xi hosting both Modi and Putin carry strong symbolic weight, underlining efforts to present an alternative to U.S.-led global frameworks. While differences persist among SCO members, the grouping has steadily expanded, giving it growing influence in shaping regional security and economic dialogue.
Strengthening China–Russia Partnership
Ahead of the summit, Xi Jinping met Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, stressing that China–Russia ties are among the most stable and resilient in the world. Russian President Putin is also expected to attend a World War II commemoration parade in Beijing after the SCO gathering, reinforcing the deepening bilateral partnership.
