The SCO summit in Tianjin, China, offered a window into the interactions and relationships between world leaders. A striking image was the evident cohesion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif observed from the sidelines. During a period when PM Modi and Putin were engaged in conversation, Sharif was apparently not included in their interactions. This visual narrative pointed to the current dynamics of international diplomacy and the positioning of key regional players.
Prior to a bilateral meeting, Putin and Modi greeted each other with a warm embrace, which preceded a group photo with SCO members. The leaders also engaged in a brief discussion, indicating coordination and shared goals. This meeting format reflected the diplomatic importance of the summit.
The summit agenda highlighted PM Modi’s address to the plenary session where he would outline India’s vision for regional cooperation within the SCO framework. This was followed by a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the summit, PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed bilateral relations. The leaders agreed that the two countries are development partners and not rivals, and they focused on maintaining stable relations and cooperation based on mutual respect and sensitivity. They also emphasized the need for a multipolar world and a multipolar Asia, reflecting global trends.