China and India held talks over their contested border at a crucial meeting, while Russian President Putin discussed matters with Trump.

In the bustling city of Tianjin, China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is underway, bringing together leaders from Russia, China, India, and several central Asian countries. The summit is taking place amidst trade turbulence, with the world experiencing "accelerated changes unseen in a century" as stated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi expressed a desire for a stable and far-reaching China-India relationship, suggesting that the border issue should not define the overall relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi discussed the importance of viewing their relationship as strategic partners, not rivals, in relation to the disputed Himalayan border. The leaders also emphasised the need to expand trade and investment ties between India and China, in light of US tariffs.

The pair acknowledged a prolonged military standoff after deadly troop clashes in 2020, which undermined bilateral relations. However, both leaders seemed to be focused on finding a resolution, with President Xi stating that the SCO has a greater responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability.

The SCO, which includes Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as full members, is often perceived as a counterbalance to US influence in the region. Apart from Russia, China, and India, the countries that participated in the latest SCO summit include Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus as full members; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as founding members; as well as several observer states and dialogue partners such as the Mongolian observer and dialogue partners like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Maldives, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

President Xi also spoke with President Putin about his recent contact with President Trump, but details of their discussion were not immediately available. Russia's war in Ukraine and China's aspirations towards Taiwan are ongoing global issues that may have been discussed during the summit.

As the summit continues, the leaders are expected to discuss various regional and global issues, aiming to foster a more stable and peaceful future for the SCO member states and the world at large.