Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 31 and Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 1 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The high-profile meetings come at a critical time as India navigates strained trade relations with the United States following tariff hikes by President Donald Trump.

India-China ties, though fragile, have shown signs of gradual improvement after years of friction. Relations hit a low point following the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, but continued diplomatic and military engagement has led to disengagement at several friction points along the Line of Actual Control.

Despite heavy troop presence, both sides have worked to minimize the chances of renewed conflict. This will be Modi’s first visit to China in more than seven years since the informal Wuhan summit in 2018. The upcoming talks will test whether the current phase of cautious rapprochement can evolve into a stable relationship.

The meeting with Putin holds equal strategic importance. As Russia faces Western sanctions over its actions in Ukraine, Moscow is looking to strengthen its traditional ties with India while deepening its coordination with China. Sources have indicated that a possible trilateral dialogue among India, Russia, and China could feature during Modi’s discussions with Putin.

The SCO summit will bring together leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. For China, the event offers an opportunity to position itself as a leader of the Global South and extend diplomatic backing to Russia.

For India, it serves as a platform to reaffirm its role in multilateral forums and project itself as a balancing force in the evolving global order.