Strong Message To Trump? PM Modi, Xi Jinping, Putin And Others Project Unity At SCO Summit Family Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening made a strong symbolic appearance on the global stage, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit reception in Tianjin, China. The event, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, was marked by ceremonial fanfare, warm handshakes, and a striking“family photo” featuring some of the world's most powerful leaders - a moment many see as carrying subtle messages amid shifting global alignments.

📸 PICTURED: SCO LEADERS POSE FOR FAMILY PHOTO twitter/9QifqpbrT7

- Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) August 31, 2025

Warm Welcome by Xi Jinping

Arriving at the venue, PM Modi was greeted personally by President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Cameras captured the Indian Prime Minister smiling and exchanging warm handshakes before walking in alongside other world leaders.

🚨🇮🇳🇨🇳 PM Modi makes his SCO Summit entry, received by Xi Jinping twitter/j0t789D2o9

- Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) August 31, 2025

Modi then joined the group for the customary family photograph - standing in the front row - a placement that highlighted India's central role within the bloc. Xi Jinping, as the host, stood at the centre with Russian President Vladimir Putin beside him, while Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and others joined in.

The photograph, symbolic of unity and cooperation among nations spanning Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, comes at a time when Washington's trade moves have unsettled global economic equations.

That SCO 'family photo' is pure optics & Putin posing as power brokers, Modi dragged in despite trade/border strains, and the smaller states lined up as wing men. The real message: Xi wants to show he can rally a crowd against Trump.

- TAILSPIN (@TAILSPIN171745) August 31, 2025

🚨BIG BREAKING NEWS 🚨#SCOSummit2025 kicks off in Tianjin, China with the iconic family photo!🇮🇳 PM #Modi stands in the front row 🔥🇨🇳 Host #XiJinping takes centre stage🇷🇺 #Putin right beside him👩 Xi's wife joins at his leftA show of power & solidarity.#BreakingNews twitter/X5z6dD12sa

- Manish Bhatt (@ManishB29989108) August 31, 2025

PM Modi Shares A Brotherly Handshake & Gives Birthday Congratulations To 🇧🇾 President Lukashenko As Leaders Gather For #SCO2025 Family Photo#China #SCOSummit #ModiXiMeet #IndiaChina #trumpdead twitter/fT74nY69H2

- Shiva Dubey 🪙 (@ShivaDubeySD) August 31, 2025

Seems to be Powerful than NATO

- Independent Journalist (@reportagepro) August 31, 2025

THIS PHOTO WILL GIVE THE BURNS 🔥 TO THE WEST 😂

- therealguru (@Shashmann22) August 31, 2025

Look at those power dynamics on display. Body language speaks volumes about who really holds influence in this alliance.

- @RightCircle (@kapiln13) August 31, 2025

A Summit of Global Weight

The SCO summit officially begins on September 1 and is being hosted by China for the fifth time. Leaders from over 20 nations are in attendance, representing a combined population of billions under what Beijing is projecting as the voice of the“Global South.”

This year's summit is particularly significant - reviewing 25 years of the organisation's achievements and adopting a new ten-year development strategy.

For India, the platform comes just as US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, including a 50 per cent levy on Indian goods, threaten to disrupt trade flows. In this context, Modi's visible camaraderie with Xi and Putin sends a signal that India is keeping its diplomatic cards close and exploring alternative strategic partnerships.

🚨 SCO SUMMIT TIANJIN 🤝PM Modi joins Putin, Xi & other world leaders for a family photo 📸Trump not on the guest list ☹️#Modi #Putin #trumpdead #China twitter/0iiTAd8O3Y

- Hindustan (@InsideHindustan) August 31, 2025

Modi–Xi Meeting: Peace, Trade and People-to-People Ties

Earlier in the day, PM Modi and President Xi held wide-ranging talks on the sidelines of the summit. Both leaders underlined the importance of peace and stability in their troubled border regions while pledging to expand economic cooperation.

“The two leaders noted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

On trade, they recognised the significance of the two economies in stabilising world markets. 

“They underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce trade deficit,” the MEA statement added.

Modi was emphatic in his televised remarks: 

“Our cooperation is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people of our two countries. This will also pave the way for the welfare of all humanity.”

In a social media post, the Prime Minister described his conversation with Xi as“fruitful.” He said,“We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and reaffirmed our commitment to cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.”

Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and... twitter/HBYS5lhe9d

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2025

Resetting Strained Ties

The engagement is part of a cautious reset in ties between India and China following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes of June 2020. Both leaders welcomed the“positive momentum and steady progress” since their October 2024 meeting in Kazan, noting that differences should not turn into disputes.

The MEA said:“A stable relationship and cooperation between India and China and their 2.8 billion peoples on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity are necessary for the growth and development of the two countries, as well as for a multipolar world and a multipolar Asia befitting the trends of the 21st century.”

Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to finding a“fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question.”

Beyond Xi: Myanmar, BRICS and Wider Diplomacy

PM Modi's diplomatic outreach extended beyond China. He held a bilateral meeting with Myanmar's acting President and military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Stressing India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies, Modi reiterated New Delhi's hope for“fair and inclusive” elections in Myanmar and backed a“Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process.”

Meanwhile, Modi also invited Xi Jinping to the 2026 BRICS Summit that India will host, with Xi responding positively and assuring China's support for India's presidency.

The Symbolism of the Family Photo

The Tianjin“family photo” - with Modi in the front row alongside Xi, Putin and Erdogan - was more than ceremonial optics. It reflected India's delicate balancing act in a turbulent global order.

With the US levying punishing tariffs, India's alignment with major Eurasian powers within the SCO can be interpreted as both a reassurance to its neighbours and a subtle reminder to Washington that New Delhi has options on the table.

For Modi, the summit marks not just a diplomatic gathering, but also a stage to project India as an indispensable player in shaping a multipolar world order.

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