Xi, Modi and Putin set to meet for SCO summit: What’s on the agenda? - Al Jazeera

**Xi, Modi and Putin to Convene at SCO Summit in Bishkek – Key Issues on the Table**

*Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan* – The 23‑rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will bring together the heads of state of China, India and Russia – President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin – for a high‑profile meeting that analysts say could reshape the security and economic architecture of Central Asia. Hosted by President Sadyr Japarov, the gathering marks the first time the three leaders will sit together under the SCO banner since the organization expanded its membership to include Iran earlier this year. The agenda is expected to cover a blend of geopolitical and developmental topics: coordinated action against terrorism and drug trafficking, the future of Afghanistan’s reconstruction, and a joint stance on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has divided the bloc’s members.

Beyond the multilateral framework, each leader is slated to hold bilateral talks that signal shifting priorities in the region. Xi is set to meet Putin in a “strategic partnership” dialogue, likely to reaffirm Beijing’s support for Moscow’s position on Ukraine while exploring deeper energy cooperation, including potential joint projects in Central Asian gas fields. Modi, meanwhile, will pay a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at a memorial in Bishkek before entering a meeting with President Japarov, aiming to boost India’s connectivity initiatives such as the International North‑South Transport Corridor and to negotiate trade terms that could counterbalance China’s Belt and Road influence. The Indian premier is also expected to discuss the SCO’s role in stabilising Afghanistan and enhancing counter‑terrorism coordination, topics that align with New Delhi’s security concerns along its northern frontier.

Observers note that the summit could test the resilience of the SCO’s “balance‑of‑power” ethos, especially as Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi navigate divergent interests. While China and Russia have deepened their strategic alignment, India’s growing economic ties with the United States and its cautious approach to the Ukraine war add complexity to the trilateral dynamic. Nonetheless, officials from all three capitals have emphasized the need for “constructive engagement” and “mutual respect” as the SCO seeks to present a united front on issues ranging from climate change and sustainable development to digital cooperation. The outcomes of the Bishkek talks will likely influence not only regional projects but also the broader global discourse on multipolarity and the future of international institutions.