SCO Summit 2025 Tianjin: Modi, Putin, Xi Unity & Key Outcome

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, hosted in Tianjin, China (August 31–September 1, 2025), marked a striking moment in global diplomacy. It was the biggest summit to date, with China as the rotating president, inviting 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

A Grand Opening & Symbolic Venue

Set against the modern backdrop of the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre, the summit’s grandiose setup reinforced China’s messaging of leadership and coordination amid a turbulent global order. The summit kicked off with a lavish banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping, signalling his ambition to assert the SCO’s role as a stabilising force in an uncertain world.

Unity and Camaraderie on Full Display

The RIC Troika Steals the Spotlight

Unprecedented moments of warmth among three of Asia’s most powerful leaders, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, became the summit’s defining images. Hugs, handshakes, laughter, and easy camaraderie captured global attention in a sharp contrast to rising U.S. tariff tensions.

Their interactions sent a subtle yet powerful message of unity and mutual understanding. Modi and Putin were seen walking hand in hand before joining Xi for light-hearted moments, underscoring solidarity among these global actors.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared awkwardly sidelined, captured in several visuals looking isolated as the powerful trio bonded. The optics spoke volumes: a geopolitical statement without words.

Messaging Underneath the Smiles

This display of camaraderie was a calculated diplomatic gesture, a show of unity among the SCO’s RIC (Russia-India-China) core in the face of external pressures, especially amid U.S. trade penalties directed at India.

Diplomatic Dialogues & Strategic Declarations

India–China Meetings: Reset and Realism

Modi and Xi held a high-profile bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit. India is committed to boosting its bilateral relationship with China through expanded trade, investment, and cooperation on global and regional issues, including terrorism and fair trade.

Specific discussions covered the resumption of direct flight connections, easing of export curbs, facilitating pilgrimages, and reducing visa bottlenecks. Tactfully referencing border concerns, Modi reiterated that while India and China may have differences, they are development partners, not rivals, pushing for mutual respect, sensitivity, and peace on the Himalayan frontier.

Modi’s Firm Stance on Terror & Double Standards

At the plenary session, Modi delivered a powerful address reinforcing India’s leadership in the fight against terrorism. He invoked the Pahalgam massacre (April 22, 2025)—a brutal attack in Jammu & Kashmir—to highlight the global fight against terror and condemn double standards in the international community.

This message, echoing India’s past interventions in combating terror groups like Al-Qaeda, served as both an appeal for global unity and a veiled rebuke aimed in Pakistan’s direction, with PM Sharif in attendance.

Xi’s Vision: Development Bank & Multipolar World

President Xi leveraged the summit to redefine the SCO beyond a security bloc. He announced plans to accelerate the establishment of an SCO development bank to enhance the organisation’s influence in global economics. China pledged $1.4 billion in loans to member states over the next three years—although these funds were not explicitly tied to the bank’s creation.

In his banquet address, Xi opposed “Cold War mentality,” bloc confrontations, and bullying in international affairs—a clear signal against U.S.-centric policies. He also exalted the "Shanghai spirit"—mutual trust, equality, consultation, and respect for the diversity of civilisations—as the SCO’s guiding force since its 2001 inception.

Putin: NATO Expansion & Ukraine Peace

Post-discussions, Putin took a firm stance on security issues. He emphasised that addressing NATO’s eastward expansion was imperative for achieving peace in Ukraine. Framing the Ukraine conflict not as aggression, but as a response to Western advances, he hinted that recent understandings from meetings with U.S. President Trump could serve as a roadmap forward—and pressed for sanctions relief.

The Summit in Perspective: Influence, Ambitions & Limits

The SCO’s Expanding Role

China’s hosting heralded the summit as the largest in the SCO’s history, with 10 full members, 16 observer and dialogue partners — and attendance from 20 foreign leaders plus international body heads. This expansion underscores the SCO’s growing geopolitical and economic relevance, especially for Global South alignment.

However, analysts caution that despite ambitious rhetoric and development plans, the practicality and effectiveness of the SCO remain uncertain—particularly compared to more potent alliances like BRICS.

India’s Strategic Ambiguity

India's positioning within the SCO is nuanced. While bolstering ties with China and Russia, it remains careful—especially on contentious issues like Ukraine, Taiwan, and maritime tensions. Its refusal to endorse a joint statement in Qingdao earlier in the year, due to perceived bias on terrorism (notably the omission of Pahalgam attack), reflects this strategic balancing act.

Powerfully Symbolic, Yet Delicate

The Tianjin SCO Summit was more than a gathering—it was a choreographed display of diplomacy, symbolism, and strategic signaling.

Xi Jinping used the stage to cement the SCO's role as a diplomatic and economic alternative to Western-led frameworks.
Narendra Modi balanced warmth with firmness—showcasing unity and leadership while underscoring India’s principled stance on terrorism and sovereignty.
Vladimir Putin framed Russia’s resilience in the face of West-led isolation, pivoting conversations toward NATO and Ukraine.

The optics of camaraderie among RIC leaders, the sidelining of weaker members, and assertive speeches all underscore a reshaping of global alignment. Whether these alignments yield substantive outcomes remains to be seen—but the summit has undoubtedly set the tone for a multipolar future.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies