Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tianjin, China, today to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, marking his first visit to China in seven years. The high-profile multilateral gathering brings together major regional leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The summit is expected to highlight regional security challenges, focusing on the SCO’s founding priorities of countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism. An agreement signing ceremony and a joint statement by leaders are scheduled later in the day.

Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Xi on Sunday, their first in nearly ten months. Both leaders discussed ways to stabilize India-China relations, particularly after recent progress on border management protocols. Reports suggest that new patrolling norms along the 3,500-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC) were agreed upon, signaling a cautious thaw after years of military tensions.

Later today, Modi is also expected to hold separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. India and Russia maintain a “special and privileged” strategic partnership, with cooperation spanning defense, nuclear energy, and oil trade. Observers note the meeting’s timing is crucial, given global uncertainty and the shifting balance of power in Asia.

This visit also builds on Modi’s recent engagement with Xi at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, earlier this year. In Tianjin, both leaders sought to enhance economic collaboration while managing strategic competition.

The SCO Summit underscores India’s pivotal role in shaping regional dialogue, even amid complex ties with China. Modi is scheduled to return to India tonight after what officials describe as a high-stakes diplomatic mission.