Xi Jinping's Major Statement on China-Russia Ties as SCO Summit Approaches with Modi and Putin’s Presence

Tanmay Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Modi's visit to Tianjin for the SCO Summit, set for August 31 and September 1 in response to an invitation from Xi Jinping. Along with Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia will also participate. PM Modi last interacted with Xi and Putin at the BRICS summits in Russia the previous years.

What Does This Mean for India?

For India, the SCO summits hold significant importance as it strives to maintain improved ties with Beijing particularly after the border clashes of 2020 Analysts believe that the meetings could lead to gradual steps toward confidence-building measures, such as troop pullbacks, reduced trade barriers and new areas of cooperation. Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, noted that India may focus on sustaining the thaw in relations with China, which is a priority for Modi.

Olander also observed that Xi aims to use this summit as a chance to present a vision of a post-American international order especially after the US efforts to counter China, Iran, Russia, and India. He pointed to the growing impact of groups like BRICS, which has posed a challenge to Western powers.

This year’s summit will be the largest since the SCO’s establishment in 2001. A Chinese foreign ministry official referred to the bloc as a "crucial force" in shaping a new international order. The detente between India and China, along with the tariff pressures from the Trump administration, has raised expectations for a positive outcome from the Modi-Xi interaction on the summit’s sidelines.

After the summit, PM Modi is expected to depart from China, while Putin will stay on for an extended visit, attending a World War II military parade in Beijing.

SCO’s Primary Goals

The SCO’s core objectives include addressing the issues of terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Lal highlighted that the SCO has broadened its cooperation across various sectors. The organization now has 10 members, including India, China, Russia, and several Central Asian countries. India has been a member since 2017, having previously been an observer since 2005. Over the years, India has taken leadership roles within the SCO, including chairing the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020 and the SCO Council of Heads of State from 2022 to 2023.

Xi Jinping on China-Russia Ties

During a meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's Duma, Xi Jinping praised China-Russia relations as the “most stable, mature, and strategically significant” among the major world powers. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi described the relationship between the two countries as a "stable source of world peace."

Xi emphasized that both nations should work together to safeguard their security and development interests, unite the Global South, promote multilateralism, and ensure a fairer and more just international order. The relationship between China and Russia has become increasingly robust especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the war China has not condemned Russia’s actions and has refrained from calling for a withdrawal of Russian troops, prompting many of Ukraine's allies to suspect China’s support for Moscow.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will personally welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modiji & Russian President Vladimir Putin at (SCO) summit, in a powerful show of Global South solidarity amid Donald Trump’s tariffs. pic.twitter.com/PkcHydIBHx

— Thomas ????????????????????????????️✌️ (@Thomas11P) August 26, 2025