Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in a SCO summit reception in the Chinese coastal city of Tianjin, taking part in a collective photograph with international heads of state.
PM Narendra Modi recently attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit Official reception in Tianjin, China. The summit comes at a crucial time for India, following the US's 25% tariff imposed on New Delhi for buying Russian crude oil.
Upon his arrival, PM Modi was greeted with a red carpet reception at the Binhai International Airport. He was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the reception. The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping was held earlier in the day, where they recognised the role of India and China's economies in stabilising global trade.
President Xi Jinping expressed China's support for India's BRICS Presidency, as India is set to take over the leadership from Brazil. PM Modi invited Xi Jinping to the BRICS Summit that India will host in 2026.
In a significant development, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. PM Modi underlined that India supports a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process. The leaders agreed to strengthen "people-to-people" ties through direct flights, visa facilitation, and the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed the way forward on several aspects of bilateral cooperation. They noted the need to reduce trade deficit and expand bilateral trade and investment ties.
At the reception, PM Modi joined other world leaders for a group photograph, which included Russian President Vladimir Putin. The SCO summit's official program will start on the morning of September 1.
The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was not the only highlight of the day. PM Modi also emphasised the importance of India's ties with Myanmar as part of its 'Neighbourhood First', 'Act East', and Indo-Pacific policies. He expressed hope for fair and inclusive elections in Myanmar, involving all stakeholders.
As the SCO summit continues, India looks forward to strengthening its relationships with member states and contributing to regional stability and cooperation.
