Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have arrived in China to a red carpet welcome, joining more than 20 world leaders at a regional security summit.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is taking place in the port of Tianjin, just days before a major military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Modi, who is visiting China for the first time in seven years, met Xi Jinping ahead of the summit and said Delhi was ready to improve relations with its neighbor, the BBC reports.
The summit comes as the US has imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for its continued purchases of Russian oil, while Putin faces threats of new sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
Modi told Xi that India is committed to “moving our relationship forward on the basis of mutual trust, dignity and sensitivity”.
“The interests of 2.8 billion people in both countries are linked to our cooperation. It will also pave the way for the well-being of all humanity,” Modi told Xi.
The SCO has ten full members, including Pakistan, Iran and Belarus, and 16 dialogue partners and observers. The summit itself is largely symbolic, but it provides leaders with an opportunity to air their common grievances and interests, and this year will be overshadowed by trade wars with the United States.
US President Donald Trump’s decision last week to impose 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods has helped to improve relations between New Delhi and Beijing, which had soured in 2020 after a deadly border clash in the Himalayas.
This year’s summit is the largest since its inception. It comes just days before a huge military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
