Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen travelling together in the same car on their way to the venue of their bilateral meeting on Monday, September 1, signalling the depth of the India-Russia relationship.
The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where both leaders are attending alongside their counterparts from member states.
Sharing a picture of himself with the Russian President on X (formerly twitter), PM Modi wrote, "After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful."
Have a look at his post here:
Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the SCO Leaders’ Meeting, outlining India’s regional priorities. His bilateral with Putin comes at a time of rising trade tensions with the United States, following Washington’s steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports in response to New Delhi’s continued import of Russian crude oil.
Talks between Modi and Putin are expected to focus on regional security, strategic cooperation, and the future of economic engagement under shifting global alignments. The two leaders were also seen exchanging a warm hug ahead of their formal talks.
Earlier, Modi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China for the first time in six years since the since the 2020 Galwan border clashes. Both leaders agreed that the boundary issue should not define their overall ties.
In addition, PM Modi also met with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
