SCO Summit 2025 Live: Xi Pushes for SCO Bank, Modi to Address Plenary

The stage is set in Tianjin as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 enters a crucial day of high-level diplomacy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other heads of state are convening for discussions on regional security, trade, and shifting global alignments. The plenary sessions are scheduled for today, with the summit running from August 31 to September 1.

Summit Significance
This year’s summit carries added weight amid major geopolitical shifts — from strained US-China ties to heightened debates over energy markets and global trade.

India-China Relations
Marking his first visit to China in seven years, PM Modi met President Xi on the eve of the summit. The talks focused on rebuilding trust, maintaining peace along the border, and strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meeting followed their last engagement at the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan.

India-Russia Partnership
Later today, PM Modi is scheduled to meet President Putin, with trade, defence, and energy at the top of the agenda. Discussions are expected to address India’s Russian oil imports and preparations for Putin’s anticipated visit to New Delhi later this year.