World leaders gathered in Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted each other with a warm handshake and hug. The two are set to hold a bilateral meeting later in the day.

This is their first in-person interaction since the United States imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports of Russian oil.

PM Modi posted pictures with the Russian President on X, saying it is “always a delight to meet him”. Footage from the venue also showed Modi, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping smiling and shaking hands.

Sharing glimpses of their conversations, the Prime Minister wrote, “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.”

The cheerful pictures of the three leaders standing together have drawn parallels with a similar moment from the BRICS Summit in 2018.

On Sunday, PM Modi held a 50-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both sides discussed ways to resolve border issues and expand cooperation.

In his opening statement, Modi said, “Last year in Kazan, we had very fruitful discussions, which gave a positive direction to our relations. After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created.”

He added that India is committed to taking ties forward “based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity”.

This is Modi’s first visit to China in seven years and comes after relations soured following the Galwan clashes in 2020.

At the plenary session on day two of the summit, attended by more than 20 world leaders and 10 international organisations, Xi Jinping opened with sharp remarks against global power politics.

He urged countries to “adhere to fairness and justice, and oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation and bullying behaviour”. Xi also spoke of building a new global security framework with the help of SCO members.

The SCO brings together India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Sixteen more nations are associated as observers or dialogue partners.

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