Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Marathon in Tianjin on August 31, 2025

Tianjin, August 31, 2025 - Chinese President Xi Jinping held a series of high‐level meetings today on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, underscoring Beijing’s push for stronger regional ties and multilateral cooperation.

In his opening engagement, Xi met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking Modi’s first visit to China in seven years. The two leaders vowed to resolve longstanding border disputes peacefully and foster deeper economic collaboration. “As long as both nations remain dedicated to being partners rather than adversaries, and fostering development opportunities instead of threats, China-India relations will thrive and advance steadily,” Xi affirmed, emphasizing that border issues should not overshadow broader bilateral relations.

Later in the morning at the Tianjin Guest House, Xi received Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, reiterating China’s commitment to support Kyrgyzstan’s development and deepen all‐round cooperation in areas such as connectivity, clean energy, and artificial intelligence. The two sides agreed to bolster coordination under the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral forums like the SCO, aiming to build a “China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future.”

Shortly thereafter, Xi held talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, celebrating three decades of China-Belarus friendship and pledging to enhance their all‐weather strategic partnership. They signed multiple cooperation documents covering science and technology, finance, and transportation, with Xi stressing the need to practice true multilateralism and jointly advance peace and development worldwide.

In his final meeting of the day, President Xi welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who praised China’s leadership in global governance and reaffirmed Ankara’s support for initiatives that uphold the one-China principle. Their discussions highlighted expanding trade ties and advancing connectivity projects linking Europe and Asia.

These meetings come as the SCO summit convenes leaders from over 20 countries to address regional security, economic integration, and cultural exchange. President Vladimir Putin is expected to join Xi later this week, further cementing the bloc’s role as a counterbalance to Western alliances.

• Associated Press contributions from Tianjin.