SCO Summit in Tianjin: Why China Chose This City, Key Attendees, and Modi-Xi Jinping Meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in China for the SCO Summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. The port city of Tianjin will host the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, bringing together approximately 20 world leaders, including PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This event is expected to be a significant moment in the SCO’s history. The summit raises questions: Why was Tianjin chosen over Shanghai as the venue? What is the agenda for the meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping? What potential outcomes are anticipated? Tianjin, the third-largest urban area in China, holds strategic importance, having served as a port for Beijing. From 1860 to 1945, it was a patchwork of foreign-controlled enclaves. Today, it is a modern trade hub, with a port ranked among the world’s largest. Tianjin is also a center for innovation, housing numerous universities and the Tianhe-1A supercomputer. Major international companies have established operations there. In 2015, a devastating industrial accident occurred in Tianjin’s port. The summit’s location choice suggests China’s strategic messaging, its ambition to challenge the Western-led global order, and its intention to leverage the SCO for the Belt and Road Initiative and regional expansion. PM Modi and Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet, focusing on improving India-China relations, especially after the Galwan clash and the Ladakh standoff. The leaders are expected to address the US President’s tariffs, trade tensions, and boundary issues, aiming to resume direct flights and simplify visa processes. PM Modi is also anticipated to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss critical issues such as Trump’s tariffs, the Ukraine conflict, and the situation in Gaza. Key attendees include PM Modi, President Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and others. Additionally, non-SCO countries like Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam, alongside leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Cuba, will also participate.