Putin and Modi in Tianjin. Photo by Roman Naumov, Ura.ru
SCO Stage for Modi-Putin Bond: Tianjin Tryst Strengthens Ties between ‘Dear Friends’
Tianjin: In a striking display of camaraderie and defiance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly invited President Vladimir Putin to India, declaring that “140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting to welcome you for our 23rd Summit in December this year.” The invitation, extended during their meeting on September 1, 2025, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, underscored a deepening bond that openly challenges the United States President Donald Trump’s diktat and echoes Putin’s vision of a new global order.
The leaders delved into bilateral cooperation, reviewing progress in economic, financial, and energy sectors with evident satisfaction at the steady growth of their ties. Their dialogue also turned to pressing global matters, notably the Ukraine conflict. Modi voiced support for recent peace initiatives, urging, “We welcome all the recent efforts towards establishing peace. We hope that all parties shall proceed ahead constructively. A way must be found to end this conflict and establish lasting peace. This is the aspiration of the entire humanity.”
Both reaffirmed their commitment to the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, a bond Modi described as enduring even in “the most difficult situations.” He said, “I am very pleased to meet you, and I feel that meeting you is always an occasion to remember. It provides us with an opportunity to exchange information on a variety of topics. We’ve been in constant touch. There have also been many high-level meetings between the two sides regularly.” Modi emphasised, “This is a reflection of the depth and scope of our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries, but also for global peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Putin, repeatedly addressing Modi as “Mr Prime Minister, dear friend,” framed the meeting’s significance within the SCO’s mission, stating, “It is symbolic that our meeting is taking place on the sidelines of the SCO summit – an organisation that brings together the efforts of the leaders of the Global South and East to build an architecture of equal and indivisible security across Eurasia.” He reflected on their partnership’s milestone, noting, “On December 21, it will be 15 years since the adoption of the Joint Statement that marked the elevation of our relations to the level of a special privileged strategic partnership. It can be stated with confidence that our multifaceted Russian-Indian ties continue to develop actively on these principles.”
Putin highlighted thriving cooperation, saying, “Trade and economic ties as a whole are showing positive dynamics. Tourist exchanges are growing. We are working in close coordination on the international stage – at the UN, BRICS, the G20, and, of course, the SCO.” He added, “Russia and India have maintained special friendly and trust-based relations for decades. This is the foundation for the future development of our ties. These relations are entirely above party politics and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of our people.”
Modi, reciprocating the warmth, responded, “Your Excellency, dear friend, I am very glad to see you. Every time we meet, I feel a special connection. It gives us the opportunity to exchange views on a regular basis across a wide range of issues.” He reiterated, “We are constantly in contact, and high-level meetings between our sides are held regularly. In December of this year, 1.4 billion Indians will eagerly welcome you to India for the 23rd annual summit between our countries.” During their conversation, Putin thrice addressed Modi as “dear friend”, while Modi reciprocated by calling Putin his “dear friend” twice.
On Ukraine, Modi reinforced, “Mr President, regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we exchange views regularly. We welcome all recent efforts to establish peace and hope that all parties will approach this issue constructively. Ways must be found to bring the conflict to a swift end and to secure peace. This is the call of all humanity.” Earlier, while addressing the SCO Summit, Putin emphasised that the conflict did not originate from a Russian attack on Ukraine but was sparked by a Western-backed coup in Ukraine. Additionally, he claimed that the crisis stemmed from the West’s persistent attempts to pull Ukraine into NATO, which Russia has long highlighted as a direct threat to Russia’s security. He said Russia’s stance on the Ukraine crisis remains consistent. “In this context, we highly value the efforts and proposals of China, India and other strategic partners aimed at facilitating a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” he said.
The Russian side was represented by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev, Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, Chairman of the Russian Fertiliser Producers Association Andrei Guryev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, Director General of Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, Chairman of Rosneft Igor Sechin, and Deputy Director General of Roscosmos Sergei Savelyev.
– global bihari bureau
