Tainjin/ New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a symbolic moment of camaraderie by travelling in the same car to the venue of their bilateral meeting in Tianjin, China, shortly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.”
After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful. pic.twitter.com/oYZVGDLxtc
The gesture comes at a time when India and Russia are seeking to further strengthen their strategic partnership, even as global trade tensions rise.
The two-day SCO summit, which has drawn over 20 foreign leaders and representatives from 10 international organisations, is focused on tackling security challenges, strengthening financial frameworks, and amplifying the collective voice of Global South nations.
PM Modi is also expected to engage with other world leaders on the sidelines of the meet.
President Donald Trump has imposed a 50 pc tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 pc penalty on discounted crude imports from Moscow. Washington’s trade officials have repeatedly accused New Delhi of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin”, criticising India’s energy policy and its balancing ties with both Russia and China.
At the SCO Summit, PM Modi underscored the importance of enhancing regional connectivity to foster trust and economic growth. “India has always believed that strong connectivity not only boosts trade but also opens doors to growth and trust. With this in mind, we are working on initiatives like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor to improve links with Afghanistan and Central Asia,” he said.
Highlighting India’s SCO presidency in 2023, Modi added that new areas of cooperation such as startups, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, innovation, and shared Buddhist heritage were brought into the organisation’s ambit. “Our effort was to expand SCO’s relevance beyond governments,” he noted.
Russian President Putin, for his part, emphasised that SCO dialogue is laying the foundation for a new Eurasian security architecture to replace outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models. “The SCO is steadily increasing its influence in addressing international issues. National currencies are being used more widely in mutual trade settlements. “The pace of cooperation is impressive,” he remarked.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged SCO members to uphold fairness and justice, cautioning against the resurgence of Cold War-era mentalities. “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II and oppose bloc confrontation and bullying practices,” Xi said while addressing the 25th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State.
