Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to speak at the SCO summit, engaging in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin, China, on Saturday for a two-day official visit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The visit coincides with the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council summit, which is taking place from August 31 to September 1.

During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting today with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting is part of the summit agenda where multiple leaders gather to discuss various matters of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping noted the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the border areas since then. They called for a stable relationship and cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.

Both leaders reaffirmed that the two countries were development partners and not rivals. They expressed a commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question. The meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping is scheduled for today.

After addressing the SCO plenary session, Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed this development.

The two leaders recognized the crucial decisions taken by the Special Representatives in their Talks earlier this month and agreed to support their efforts further. China offered its support to India's BRICS Presidency, with President Xi Jinping being invited by PM Modi to the BRICS Summit that India will be hosting in 2026.

PM Modi underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for the continued development of bilateral relations. Both leaders welcomed the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Kazan.

India has held the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020 and of the SCO Council of Heads of State from 2022 to 2023. The SCO comprises 10 members, including India, which has been a member since 2017.

The 25th SCO Heads of State Council summit is a significant event, bringing together leaders from various nations to discuss regional and global issues. The summit promises to be a platform for strengthening cooperation and fostering peace and stability in the region.