Xi Jinping, Modi and Putin Set to Meet at SCO Summit: What’s on the Agenda?

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, with the gathering set to focus on regional security, trade, energy and the changing balance of global power.

The summit comes as China, India and Russia seek to strengthen cooperation while relations between several major powers remain strained by geopolitical conflicts and economic tensions.

Xi, Modi and Putin to Hold Key Talks

The meeting between the three leaders is expected to attract significant international attention because of the countries’ combined economic, military and political influence.

The SCO brings together countries across Asia and has increasingly become an important forum for discussions on regional security and economic cooperation.

For Xi Jinping, the summit provides an opportunity to reinforce China’s leadership role within the organisation and strengthen ties with major regional partners.

For Narendra Modi, the meeting offers a platform to discuss India’s economic and strategic interests while maintaining its independent foreign policy.

Putin is expected to use the summit to demonstrate that Russia continues to have strong relationships with major Asian powers despite pressure from Western countries.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

Economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda.

China, India and Russia have expanded trade and energy links in recent years, while the countries have also discussed alternatives to Western-dominated financial and payment systems.

Energy is particularly important. Russia remains a major energy supplier, while China and India are among the world’s largest consumers.

The leaders could discuss increasing trade in national currencies and reducing dependence on the US dollar.

Regional Security and the Middle East

Security issues are also expected to feature prominently.

The leaders could discuss conflicts and instability across the Middle East, as well as security challenges in Central Asia.

The ongoing US-Iran conflict and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz could be particularly important because disruptions in the region have major implications for global energy markets.

The war in Ukraine and broader tensions between Russia and Western countries may also feature in discussions, although the three countries have different positions on the conflict.

India-China Relations

The summit also comes at an important moment for India-China relations.

The two Asian powers have been attempting to stabilize ties following years of tensions along their disputed Himalayan border.

A meeting between Modi and Xi could provide an opportunity to discuss border issues, trade and efforts to improve bilateral relations.

For India, maintaining relations with both China and Russia remains an important part of its broader strategy of strategic autonomy.

Russia Looks Toward Asia

For Putin, closer cooperation with China and India remains particularly important as Russia continues to face Western sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

Moscow has increasingly shifted its economic and diplomatic focus toward Asia, with China and India becoming key markets for Russian energy and other exports.

The SCO summit therefore offers Putin an opportunity to emphasize Russia’s relationships with major non-Western powers.

Why the SCO Summit Matters

The gathering of Xi, Modi and Putin highlights the growing importance of Asian-led diplomatic forums in global affairs.

While the three countries do not share identical interests or policies, their cooperation could influence global trade, energy markets, security arrangements and the international balance of power.

The summit will therefore be closely watched for signs of closer coordination among China, India and Russia.