Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China next week to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first visit to the country in over seven years. The two-day meeting in Tianjin, scheduled from August 31 to September 1, is being seen as a significant moment in regional diplomacy, with President Xi Jinping hosting more than 20 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The visit comes at a time when both India and China are seeking to manage tensions following the deadly border clashes of 2020. The summit will also allow New Delhi to engage with multiple Asian and Eurasian nations as the SCO pushes for a greater role in shaping new international alignments.

Leaders Converge in Tianjin

The summit is expected to be the largest gathering since the SCO’s founding in 2001. Leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia will be present. For Xi, the meeting represents a chance to project solidarity across the Global South and suggest what a post-American-led order could look like.

Western governments remain distanced from Moscow over the Ukraine war, but Putin finds himself welcomed at this platform. Modi last appeared alongside Xi and Putin during the Brics summit in Kazan earlier this year. Russian officials in New Delhi said they hoped trilateral talks involving Moscow, Beijing and New Delhi may take place on the sidelines.

Analysts note that Xi is likely to use the event to underline resilience of non-Western blocs despite US efforts to counter growing cooperation between China, Russia and other Asian partners.

India’s Balancing Act

For India, the summit comes amid pressures on multiple fronts. New Delhi is looking to lower tariff-related strains with the Trump administration in Washington while also exploring scope for a limited détente with China. Experts say optics will matter as much as outcomes, with both Modi and Xi keen to show willingness for dialogue.

Officially, India has listed trade, connectivity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity among its priorities for the SCO. Bilateral meetings are also expected, with possible discussions on troop withdrawals along the Line of Actual Control, expanding trade routes, easing visa processes, and cooperation on climate and cultural exchanges.

Symbolic but Strategic

Despite limited expectations, the summit is seen as strategically significant. Experts emphasise that the real weight lies in optics rather than breakthroughs. “This summit is about optics, really powerful optics,” said Eric Olander of The China-Global South Project. With Modi returning immediately after the summit and Putin extending his stay for a World War Two anniversary parade in Beijing, the summit will highlight each leader’s priorities in showcasing global influence.

The SCO, which today has 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer states, has steadily expanded its agenda from security to economic and defence cooperation. Yet, its mixed record leaves analysts questioning its real effectiveness. For India, however, participation continues to provide a platform to engage with regional neighbours and maintain a delicate balance in shifting geopolitics.

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