PM Modi-Putin Talks Today on SCO Sidelines, Xi Jinping Meeting Likely; Iran War, Trade on Agenda

August 31, 2026

Bishkek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on Sunday, is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on Monday.

Modi is also likely to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, although there is no official confirmation yet on the proposed meeting. The two-day SCO summit is being held on August 31 and September 1 as the grouping marks 25 years of its existence. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.

Modi-Putin talks to focus on strategic ties

The meeting between Modi and Putin is expected to review the broader India-Russia strategic partnership, including cooperation in defence, energy and trade.

The talks come at a time when India-Russia ties are being closely watched amid changing global dynamics and pressure from the United States over issues including Russian oil imports.

Trade and the widening imbalance in bilateral commerce are also expected to figure in the discussions, along with energy cooperation and defence-related issues.

The meeting also comes days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Russia and held talks with Putin, underlining New Delhi’s continued engagement with Moscow.

Xi meeting could focus on India-China ties

If the meeting between Modi and Xi takes place, it would be an important engagement between the two leaders amid efforts to improve India-China relations.

The talks could provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral ties and outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while also taking stock of regional and global developments.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Iran crisis and the Ukraine war are expected to remain important issues during discussions among SCO leaders. Iran is also a member of the grouping.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s recent visit to China and Jaishankar’s talks in Russia have also added significance to Modi’s engagements with leaders of the two major powers.

PM Modi in Bishkek for SCO summit

PM Modi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday after concluding his two-day visit to Uzbekistan, where India and Uzbekistan elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of USD 5 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030.

In Bishkek, Modi was received by Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliev, and witnessed a traditional Kyrgyz dance performance at the airport.

“Landed in Bishkek a short while ago. Grateful to Mr. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic for the warm welcome. Will be meeting various leaders bilaterally and attending the SCO Summit tomorrow and the day after,” Modi said in a post on X.

He also shared a post thanking the Indian community in Bishkek for the special welcome.

The Prime Minister is attending the SCO Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. According to the government, he will highlight India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity at the forum and hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines.

The SCO was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024, taking the organisation’s membership to 10 countries.

The summit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with regional security, terrorism, trade, energy, connectivity and conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine expected to feature prominently in discussions.