Xi, Modi and Putin Meet at the SCO Summit
The Xi Modi Putin SCO summit is taking place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as leaders from across Eurasia gather for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The two-day meeting is being held on August 31 and September 1, 2026. The grouping is also marking 25 years since the SCO was established.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among the most closely watched leaders at the meeting. The summit brings together 10 member states and focuses on regional security, economic cooperation and major international developments.
For India, the summit provides an opportunity to discuss security, connectivity and economic cooperation with major Eurasian powers. Modi has also stressed the need for a region that is free from terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Regional Security Tops the Agenda
Security is expected to remain one of the most important subjects at the SCO meeting.
The organisation was originally created with a strong focus on regional stability, and security cooperation remains central to its work. Leaders are expected to discuss terrorism, extremism, organised crime, drug trafficking and cybersecurity.
Cybercrime has received growing attention from SCO members. Officials have warned that artificial intelligence and the internet are creating new opportunities for criminal networks. Cooperation among law-enforcement agencies is therefore expected to be strengthened.
The SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure may also receive attention as member states seek stronger coordination against cross-border threats.
Ukraine War Could Feature in Discussions
The war in Ukraine is another major issue hanging over the summit.
India has continued to call for dialogue and peace while maintaining relations with both Russia and Western countries. During a meeting with Putin in Bishkek, Modi urged an end to the war and said that peace was important for humanity. Putin responded by saying Russia was moving toward peace while maintaining Moscow’s existing position on the conflict.
The Ukraine war may not become a separate negotiating track at the SCO summit, but it is expected to influence conversations about international security and relations between major powers.
West Asia and Iran Also in Focus
The ongoing conflict and tensions in West Asia are also expected to feature prominently.
The SCO has taken a more visible position on developments involving Iran and the wider Middle East. Its foreign ministers recently called for restraint, dialogue and political solutions to international disputes.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is attending the summit, giving the issue greater importance. Putin is also expected to hold talks with Pezeshkian. India, meanwhile, has strong energy and connectivity interests in the region.
For New Delhi, stability around major trade and energy routes remains particularly important.
India-China Relations Under Watch
The meeting between Modi and Xi will receive significant attention.
India-China ties have gradually improved after years of tension along the Line of Actual Control. Their interaction at the summit could offer another signal about the direction of bilateral relations.
Border stability, trade and wider regional cooperation are likely to remain important issues. However, the SCO meeting is primarily a multilateral forum, so any major India-China breakthrough should not be assumed before official talks take place.
The two leaders last appeared together at the 2025 SCO summit in Tianjin, where their interaction attracted global attention. The relationship has since entered a more cautious phase of engagement.
Trade, Energy and Connectivity
Economic cooperation is another major pillar of the Xi Modi Putin SCO summit.
SCO members are expected to discuss trade, investment, transport networks, energy cooperation and digital connectivity. Preparatory meetings have already focused on economic cooperation, investment and infrastructure.
Transport connectivity is particularly important for India. The International North-South Transport Corridor links Russia and India through Iran and the Persian Gulf region. Greater connectivity could reduce transport times and open new trade opportunities across Eurasia.
The proposed SCO Development Bank could also move closer to becoming a practical institution. Consultations on its structure were held in Bishkek in May, following the political decision to establish it in 2025.
Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence
Technology is becoming a bigger part of SCO economic discussions.
Member states have been exploring cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, green energy and technological development. These subjects could help the organisation expand beyond its traditional focus on security.
China has also called for stronger cooperation in digital economies, scientific innovation and artificial intelligence. Beijing has promoted closer coordination on industrial and supply chains as part of its broader vision for SCO development.
Afghanistan and Counterterrorism
Afghanistan remains another important security concern.
The SCO has long viewed Afghanistan as a regional issue because of terrorism, drug trafficking, instability and cross-border security risks. Leaders are expected to consider how member states can coordinate their approach to the country.
India is particularly interested in ensuring that Afghan territory is not used by terrorist groups against neighbouring countries.
Why the Summit Matters for India
For India, the SCO summit is more than a diplomatic gathering. It gives New Delhi a platform to engage simultaneously with Russia, China, Iran and Central Asian states.
Modi has described India’s regional approach around security, connectivity and opportunity. His participation also reflects India’s effort to maintain strategic relationships with multiple major powers while protecting its own economic and security interests.
The summit also comes shortly before the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where India, Russia and China are again expected to share the same platform. That creates an unusual period of intense diplomatic engagement among the three countries.
What to Watch Next
The biggest questions from the Xi Modi Putin SCO summit are whether India and China can continue improving their relationship, whether SCO members can agree on stronger security cooperation, and whether new trade and connectivity projects can move forward.
The discussions on Ukraine and West Asia will also reveal how far the SCO can coordinate positions on major global crises.
For India, the summit is an opportunity to balance relationships, expand regional connectivity and push for stronger action against terrorism. For China and Russia, it is another platform for promoting cooperation and a more multipolar international system.
As the Bishkek meeting concludes, the final declarations and bilateral meetings will show which issues produced concrete commitments and which remained mainly diplomatic talking points.
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