Xi Jinping Likely To Welcome Modi And Putin Personally At SCO Summit In Show Of Global South Unity: Report

President Xi Jinping will host over 20 world leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September, projecting Global South solidarity and giving Russia a diplomatic boost despite sanctions, reported Reuters.

He is likely to personally welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Modi will visit China for the first time in more than seven years, as both neighbours try to ease tensions after the 2020 border clashes.

PM Modi, Xi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin last appeared together at the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan. Moscow recently expressed hope for trilateral talks with Beijing and New Delhi.

“Xi will want to use the summit as an opportunity to showcase what a post-American-led international order begins to look like,” said Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of the China-Global South Project. “Just look at how much BRICS has rattled (U.S. President) Donald Trump.”

Chinese officials called this year’s SCO summit the largest since its founding in 2001. The bloc now has 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer states, expanding its agenda beyond counter-terrorism to economic and military cooperation.

Analysts remain sceptical. “What is the precise vision that the SCO represents and its practical implementation are rather fuzzy,” said Manoj Kewalramani of the Takshashila Institution. He added that its convening power aids “narrative projection” but real security outcomes remain limited.

Despite past friction, India and China are expected to announce incremental border and trade measures. Olander noted, “This summit is about optics, really powerful optics.”

Putin will remain in China for a World War Two military parade, while Modi will depart after the summit.

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