SCO Summit 2025: PM Modi’s Address and Bilateral Talks with Putin, Xi | 10-Point Cheat Sheet

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council Summit, held in Tianjin, China, became a major stage for regional and global diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, engaged in a series of high-level discussions that underscored India’s growing influence in shaping global security and economic narratives.

Here are the 10 biggest takeaways from the summit:

1. India-Russia Partnership Strengthened

PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with President Putin reinforced their “special and privileged strategic partnership.” Discussions focused on defence, energy, trade, and technology. Modi also invited Putin to India for the 23rd annual summit in December.

2. Modi’s Strong Stand Against Terrorism

At the plenary session, Modi described terrorism as the “gravest threat to humanity.” He urged zero tolerance against state-backed terrorism and highlighted the Pahalgam terror attack in J&K as a reminder of the urgency.

3. First Modi-Xi Bilateral Meeting Since 2018

After seven years, PM Modi and President Xi held a direct dialogue. The leaders emphasised restoring trust and ensuring peace, with Modi stressing mutual respect and sensitivity in handling the India-China border issue.

4. Progress on Border Management

Special representatives of both countries reached an agreement on managing border tensions. Since the 2024 Kazan summit, disengagement at flashpoints along the LAC has reduced friction, paving the way for confidence-building measures.

5. Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

As a goodwill gesture, India and China announced the reopening of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year suspension—marking an important step in restoring cultural and people-to-people ties.

6. Direct India-China Flights Restart

Both nations agreed to resume direct flights, facilitating business travel, tourism, and cultural exchanges after years of disruption.

7. Call for Multilateralism

PM Modi highlighted the SCO’s role in fostering regional cooperation, while Xi emphasised building a multipolar world order. Both called for stronger collaboration on global issues.

8. India’s Development Pitch

In his speech, Modi invited SCO members and global investors to join India’s transformative journey under the mantra “Reform, Perform, Transform.” He stressed India’s growth resilience and openness to global partnerships.

9. Xi Jinping’s Push for Global Justice

Xi called on SCO members to resist unilateralism and safeguard the multilateral trading system. He also announced 100 small-scale development projects across SCO nations to reduce inequality.

10. Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Call for Peace

In private talks, Modi and Putin reiterated the need for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war. Modi assured India’s support for global peace, while Putin appreciated India’s balanced role in seeking dialogue-driven solutions.

Conclusion

The 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin reaffirmed India’s role as a key diplomatic player in Asia and beyond. Modi’s engagements with Putin and Xi highlighted India’s balancing act between security concerns, economic opportunities, and peace-building initiatives. The summit underscored shared goals of regional stability, counter-terrorism, and multilateral cooperation, while also offering significant progress in India-China and India-Russia ties.