India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. This marks his first visit to China in over seven years.

More than 20 global leaders are expected to attend, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Observers view the summit as a significant display of solidarity among Global South nations and a diplomatic boost for Russia amid its Western isolation, according to Reuters.

Modi's participation also highlights a thaw in India–China relations, with recent progress on border issues, trade discussions, and the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.

Although the summit is unlikely to produce major agreements on security or economics, it is expected to serve as a strong platform for symbolic unity and strategic messaging. The event will emphasize a post-Western vision of global order led by emerging powers.

For India, the gathering provides an opportunity to project an independent foreign policy, deepen economic and climate cooperation, and reinforce regional stability without straining its ties with the United States.

For China, hosting the summit offers a chance to assert its leadership on the world stage, using the optics of Modi and Putin's presence to underscore the SCO's importance.

As the SCO evolves into more of a geopolitical platform than a policy engine, the Tianjin summit highlights both the strengths and the limitations of multipolar diplomacy in a divided world.

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