Tianjin, China: In a significant diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled together in the same car to their bilateral meeting following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Monday.
PM Modi shared the moment on social media platform X, stating, “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.”
The meeting comes at a time when India and Russia are seeking to deepen their bilateral ties amid growing economic pressure from the United States. The Biden administration recently imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, including a 25% penalty in response to India’s purchase of discounted Russian crude oil. Washington has accused New Delhi of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” highlighting tensions over India’s energy strategy.
Despite these pressures, India continues to maintain strong relations with both Moscow and Beijing. Prime Minister Modi’s participation at the SCO Summit underscores New Delhi’s commitment to multilateralism and regional cooperation.
In his address at the summit, PM Modi emphasized the importance of connectivity to strengthen trade and trust among SCO member states. “India has always believed that strong connectivity not only boosts trade but also opens doors to growth and trust,” he said, citing projects like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor as examples of India’s infrastructure initiatives aimed at linking South and Central Asia.
Highlighting India’s contributions during its SCO presidency in 2023, PM Modi added, “Startups, innovation, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and shared Buddhist heritage were new areas which India incorporated. Our effort was to expand the SCO’s ambit beyond governments.”
Russian President Putin echoed Modi’s sentiments, emphasizing the SCO’s role in shaping a new security framework for Eurasia. “Dialogue within the SCO helps lay the foundation for a new Eurasian security system, replacing outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models,” Putin said, noting the increasing use of national currencies in trade among member countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also addressed the summit, calling on the SCO to uphold fairness and justice. “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices,” Xi said.
The 2025 SCO Summit marked a broader shift toward multipolarity in global governance, as traditional Western alliances face strain amid what many describe as Washington’s increasingly transactional approach to foreign policy.
