Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, focusing on three key pillars—Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. He called on member nations to unite against terrorism, referencing the recent Pahalgam terror attack as not just an attack on India, but a “challenge to humanity”. Modi stressed the need for the SCO bloc to reject “double standards” on terrorism, subtly criticizing countries that openly support terrorist activities. He also proposed the creation of a Civilisational Dialogue Forum to highlight cultural aspects of the SCO countries.
Exchanging Perspectives with Xi and Putin
At the summit, PM Modi held key meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. These interactions were described by observers as warm and friendly, sending a strong diplomatic message about dialogue and cooperation between India, China, and Russia despite challenges in global trade and politics. Visuals from the event showed camaraderie among the three leaders, reflecting confidence and comfort in their informal discussions. Modi emphasised the importance of “exchanging perspectives” to stabilise the world economy and move towards multipolarity where power is shared among nations.
India’s Strategic Offer and Regional Vision
Modi proposed the use of Iran’s Chabahar Port, developed with Indian help, as a reliable alternative for Eurasian connectivity, positioning it against other regional corridors like Pakistan’s Gwadar Port. He highlighted that any connectivity project should respect national sovereignty, indicating reservations about China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
