Xi, Modi and Putin attend SCO summit: What’s on the agenda? - Al Jazeera

**Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan –** Heads of state from China, India and Russia converged on the Kyrgyz capital this week for the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, a gathering that brings together eight member nations and several dialogue partners to discuss security, economic cooperation and regional development. President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin were among the leaders who arrived for the three‑day meeting, underscoring the bloc’s growing diplomatic weight amid a shifting global order. The summit’s agenda featured a mix of traditional SCO priorities—counter‑terrorism, drug trafficking, and the promotion of connectivity projects such as the Belt‑Road Initiative extensions—alongside a heightened focus on the protracted conflict in Ukraine.

During a bilateral dialogue with Putin, Modi reiterated India’s “unwavering” support for every diplomatic effort aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, echoing statements made earlier in New Delhi and aligning with India’s broader “strategic autonomy” policy. While India refrains from taking sides, it called for a “move from endless war to the end of war,” positioning itself as a potential mediator. In contrast, Xi’s meeting with Putin highlighted a “stronger China‑Russia cooperation” to confront “uncertainties” in the international system, signalling Beijing’s willingness to deepen its strategic partnership with Moscow despite Western sanctions. The three leaders also discussed expanding trade ties, enhancing energy security, and coordinating on regional infrastructure projects that could link Central Asia more closely with South Asia and the Pacific.

Analysts view the summit as a litmus test for the SCO’s capacity to shape Eurasian geopolitics beyond the traditional security remit. India’s diplomatic overtures toward both Moscow and Beijing aim to preserve its strategic independence while safeguarding economic interests, particularly in energy and technology. Meanwhile, the reinforced China‑Russia axis may prompt Western powers to recalibrate their engagement with the SCO. Observers will watch closely whether the bloc can translate its lofty declarations into concrete mechanisms for conflict resolution in Ukraine and greater economic integration across the continent.