Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, for the first time in seven years. He was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders said they are committed to improving ties and plan to expand trade and investments despite new US tariffs on India. At the summit, Xi told leaders the SCO now has “greater responsibilities” to safeguard peace and stability. Russian President Vladimir Putin also joined the meeting. Modi shared photos with leaders from Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar, and others, highlighting cooperation. Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif was also present at the event. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a handshake and a pat at the SCO Summit in China, a rare friendly gesture amid strained ties. Relations soured after Operation Sindoor, when Turkey reportedly backed Pakistan following India’s strikes on terror camps. Sources said Turkey supplied Pakistan with drones and operators used against India. Tensions grew after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Despite Ankara’s criticism, Modi’s cordial moment with Erdogan stood out. The meeting comes as India and China also show closer alignment at the summit. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of cross-border terrorism during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi stressed that terrorism is a “priority concern” for India and affects both nations. He called for “mutual understanding and support” in fighting the challenge. Misri confirmed that China has extended cooperation to India on the matter. Modi also highlighted the need for peace along the border to strengthen ties. Both leaders agreed to work on a mutually acceptable boundary resolution and to cooperate on stabilising the global economy. (PC: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin during the SCO summit. Modi said India is committed to moving ties forward with “mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.” He added, “The cooperation between us is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people of our two nations.” Modi also noted peace after border disengagement and spoke about resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and starting direct flights. Xi welcomed Modi, saying, “It is the right choice for both countries to be friends and good neighbours.” This is Modi’s first visit to China in seven years.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said India is in talks with Australia to build 1 million homes. He called it a $500 billion chance. Indian workers may go to Australia, get training, and build houses as per local rules. Goyal also asked the UAE to help with funding. Housing costs are rising in Australia due to fewer homes, making the deal important. India is also working on trade deals with Oman, New Zealand, and the EU. Goyal said India will keep finding new markets, even as the US raises tariffs on Indian goods. (PC: Pixabay)

‘Educate Girls’, an Indian NGO founded by Safeena Husain, has won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, becoming the first Indian non-profit to do so. Husain, a London School of Economics graduate, left her career in the US to work at the grassroots in Rajasthan in 2007. Since then, the NGO has enrolled over 1.1 million girls and impacted 15.5 million people across India. The organisation works to break barriers that keep girls out of school and launched innovative programmes like the Development Impact Bond and Pragati. Husain called the award a historic moment for India and girls’ education. (PC: HT)

Geopolitics expert Einar Tangen criticized US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, calling it an attempt to "force India into submission." He said, “Belittling a country like India does not make sense,” and urged New Delhi to stand up to the “bully.” Tangen added that Washington fears India’s leadership in the non-aligned world. His remarks came as PM Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, vowing to strengthen India-China ties. Modi noted troop disengagement after the Galwan clashes created stability. Tangen said India now has a chance to show leadership against US pressure. (PC: NDTV)

World leaders posed for the traditional family photo at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping, the host, stood at the centre with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his right and his wife Peng Liyuan on his left. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood in the front row alongside Xi, Putin, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also in the front row. This marks Modi’s first SCO summit in China in seven years, where he will also hold bilateral talks. (PC: X)

In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Tianjin during the SCO Summit on August 31, 2025—marking a notable thaw in India–China relations. Modi emphasised that cooperation should proceed on “mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity,” noting the impact of their partnership on 2.8 billion people and global welfare . Xi described India and China as the “elephant and dragon” whose unity can promote peace, prosperity, and a multipolar world. The extended, substantive talks went beyond diplomacy for symbolism, reflecting real intent toward improved ties.

At the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin (August 31–September 1, 2025), China’s Xi Jinping greeted both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with red-carpet welcomes, underscoring Beijing’s ambition to forge a multipolar world order . Modi’s first visit to China in seven years featured discussions on bolstering economic ties, easing long-standing border tensions, and advancing strategic autonomy from Western influence . Putin emphasized the need for a “fairer multipolar world,” while China projected regional solidarity among Global South nations amid shifting geopolitical currents .