Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Tianjin on August 30 for the August 31–September 1 SCO leaders’ summit, receiving a warm diaspora welcome and attending cultural performances.
• Modi is slated to meet President Xi Jinping on Sunday, with Indian reports indicating a possible second session the same day, and he is scheduled to meet President Vladimir Putin on September 1.
• Chinese and SCO officials say this will be the largest summit in the bloc’s history and expect leaders to approve a 10-year development strategy alongside security, economic and cultural outcome documents.
• The visit follows recent India–China steps to steady ties, including resumed direct flights, plans to reopen limited border trade, and earlier agreements on disengagement and border management.
• The summit and Modi’s bilaterals unfold against President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, a backdrop that has heightened focus on trade cooperation and economic stability.