PM Modi in China for SCO Summit LIVE Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was formally received by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. The formal welcome came after bilateral talks between the two leaders, held amid escalating US tariffs and Beijing’s strained ties with Washington.
PM Modi arrived in China on Saturday to attend the two-day annual SCO Summit in Tianjin—his first visit to the country in over seven years and since the Galwan clash. Upon his arrival, he was greeted warmly by members of the Indian community with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.”
Later, the Prime Minister attended a cultural performance at his hotel, where Chinese artists showcased Indian classical music on instruments such as the sitar, santoor, and tabla.
PM Modi, Xi Jinping Reaffirm India-China Ties at SCO Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held crucial bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where both leaders reaffirmed that India and China are “development partners, not rivals.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders welcomed the “positive momentum and steady progress” in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
They emphasized that differences between the two nations “should not turn into disputes.” The MEA further noted that a stable relationship between India and China, grounded in mutual respect, interests, and sensitivities, is essential not only for the growth of their 2.8 billion people but also for shaping a multipolar Asia and world in the 21st century.
“Kazan Meet Marked the Reset”: China on Modi–Xi Talks
China on Sunday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin as a continuation of the “reset” achieved during their Kazan talks in October 2024.
The two leaders spoke for nearly an hour, with Beijing emphasizing that India and China, as the world’s two most populous nations and key members of the Global South, share the responsibility of fostering unity and advancing human progress.
In its official statement, China said both countries “shoulder the important responsibility of benefiting their peoples, promoting unity and revitalization among developing nations, and advancing the progress of human society.”
Highlighting the importance of cooperation, Beijing added that “being good-neighbourly friends and partners for mutual success—and achieving a ‘Dance of the Dragon and the Elephant’—should be the right choice for both China and India.”
“Milestone for Bilateral Ties”: Chinese Journalist on PM Modi’s China Visit
Senior Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to China in seven years as a “milestone” in strengthening bilateral relations.
Speaking to NDTV after PM Modi’s talks with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Shiwei called the meeting “a reset for bilateral ties.”
He added that the visit has paved the way for stronger communication between ministries and deeper cooperation. “This is good for both sides politically, economically, and also for culture-to-culture and people-to-people exchanges,” Shiwei said.
PM Modi — in #SCOSummit2025 #IndiaChina
— Sumit Chaudhary (@SumitDefence) August 31, 2025
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Mutual… pic.twitter.com/IhF9E6hqzj
Recalling Nehru’s 1954 China Visit as PM Modi Attends SCO Summit
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin on Saturday for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, the visit echoed an earlier moment in India-China diplomacy. More than seven decades ago, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the People’s Republic of China, a trip hailed at the time as a historic breakthrough.
In 1954, Nehru called the visit “the most important foreign mission of his life.” He was the first non-communist leader to set foot in Beijing after Mao Zedong’s 1949 victory, and the Chinese leadership rolled out an elaborate welcome.
“The six miles between city and airport were walled by unbroken banks of humanity, clapping, cheering and crying the inescapable Chinese slogan, ‘Long live peace’,” reported The New York Times then.
Accompanied by his daughter Indira Gandhi, Nehru met Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, touring Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Guangzhou. For Nehru, who envisioned an Asia free from Cold War rivalries, the visit appeared to mark the beginning of a new era of friendship between the two Asian giants.
“Right Choice for India, China to Be Friends”: Xi Jinping to PM Modi
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his opening remarks during bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, said it was the “right choice” for India and China to be friends.
Welcoming PM Modi to China, Xi recalled their last meeting at the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024. “It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Mr Prime Minister. We are the world’s two most populous countries and key members of the Global South. Together, we shoulder the responsibility of improving the well-being of our peoples, fostering solidarity among developing nations, and advancing human progress,” Xi said.
He added that India and China should remain “good neighbourly friends and partners for mutual success,” likening cooperation between the two nations to the “dragon and the elephant coming together.”
Xi also noted that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic relations, underlining the significance of PM Modi’s visit.
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China SCO Summit Live: Russia, China Seek “Benefit of All Humanity,” Says Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow and Beijing are “united in strengthening” the BRICS grouping to tackle global challenges, including opposition to what he termed “discriminatory sanctions” that hinder the socioeconomic development of member states and the wider international community.
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency ahead of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Putin highlighted growing cooperation between Russia and China across multilateral platforms. He stressed that BRICS is evolving into a “key pillar of global architecture” while also backing reforms in international financial institutions.
Criticising the use of financial instruments as tools of “neo-colonialism,” Putin said BRICS advocates inclusive growth for the “Global Majority.”
“Alongside our Chinese partners, we support reforms of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. A new financial system must reflect openness, equity, and the true standing of countries in the global economy. It is essential to end the use of finance as a tool of neo-colonialism. Instead, we seek progress for the benefit of all humanity,” Putin said.
PM Modi to Meet Xi Jinping Today During First China Visit in 7 Years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Tianjin on Sunday for wide-ranging talks, their first meeting in nearly ten months. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties at a time when India-US relations have faced strain over Washington’s trade and tariff policies.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which begins Sunday. Given the breadth of issues on the agenda, official sources indicated that the two leaders may hold another round of talks later in the day.
PM Modi and Xi last met in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia, during the BRICS Summit. Before returning to India on Monday, PM Modi is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The SCO Summit will open with an official banquet hosted by Xi Jinping on Sunday.
Ahead of PM Modi’s Meeting with Putin in China, Zelensky Calls Indian PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, just ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. The two leaders discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with India reiterating its full support for peace and stability efforts.
“Thank you, President Zelensky, for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspects, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” PM Modi wrote on X.
In his statement, President Zelensky said the conversation also touched upon his recent talks with former US President Donald Trump in Washington, which included European leaders. He emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to pursuing dialogue with Russia despite continued attacks on civilian areas.
“I spoke with Prime Minister of India @NarendraModi. It was a productive and important conversation, a shared vision among partners on how to achieve real peace. Ukraine reaffirmed its readiness for a meeting with the head of Russia,” Zelensky said.
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Handshakes, Smiles, Cultural Performances: PM Modi Welcomed by Indian Community in China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm reception by the Indian diaspora as he arrived at Binhai International Airport in Tianjin on Saturday for a two-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. He was received by senior Chinese and Indian officials, marking the start of his first visit to China in seven years.
Members of the Indian community enthusiastically greeted the Prime Minister with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram,” expressing their admiration and support.
Later in the evening, PM Modi attended a cultural performance at his hotel, where Chinese artists showcased their mastery of Indian classical music on instruments such as the sitar, santoor, and tabla. Many of the performers have been studying Indian classical music and dance for years, symbolizing the cultural bonds between the two nations.
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