Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seen walking hand-in-hand as they greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

The two leaders arrived side-by-side ahead of the summit’s second day, where 20 heads of state from across Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East gathered in a powerful display of Global South solidarity.

Putin’s rare four-day visit to China underscores Moscow’s deepening ties with its largest trading partner. He was warmly welcomed in Tianjin by senior city officials upon arrival on Sunday, August 31.

Shortly after his arrival, Putin held a sideline meeting with Xi. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the two discussed recent contacts between Moscow and Washington, though no further details were provided.

The SCO summit highlights growing efforts among non-Western powers to strengthen political and economic cooperation, with the Putin-Modi-Xi encounter symbolizing a shared push toward greater regional influence.