India Eyes New Beginnings at SCO Summit in China Amidst Complex Geopolitical Landscape

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, an event that marks a pivotal moment for India’s diplomacy. The summit, taking place next week, is Modi’s first visit to China in seven years. The Foreign Ministry announced Modi’s participation at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, with potential bilateral talks also on the agenda. The summit will bring together leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and South-East Asia, alongside Xi and Putin. The gathering marks the first public appearance of Modi, Xi, and Putin since the BRICS summit in Russia. The summit offers a chance to promote the unity of the Global South, give Russia a platform, and underline Beijing’s growing international role. India sees the summit as a chance to stabilize relations with China after the 2020 border conflicts. This could include steps to de-escalate tensions, remove trade barriers, and explore new areas of cooperation. India is attempting to balance its diplomatic relationships, striving to improve its ties with China while remaining active in regional forums. The Tianjin conference represents a shift toward a multipolar world order, in which India has an increasingly complex and influential role to play.