At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, a brief moment caught attention. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif watched silently as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin walked past him.

The scene unfolded during the ceremonial proceedings. Moreover, a video widely shared on social media showed Modi and Putin walking together and talking, while Sharif stood nearby observing.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif looks on as PM Modi and President Putin walk past him at the SCO Summit. pic.twitter.com/7u9FgnS6an

— Tar21Operator (@Tar21Operator) September 1, 2025

Modi and Sharif Stand Apart

Later, PM Modi posted a group photo on X. Interestingly, the picture showed him and Sharif standing at opposite corners.

At the SCO Summit in Tianjin. pic.twitter.com/GbhyyxMDmL

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025

In addition, another clip from the summit showed Modi, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping smiling, chatting, and then posing together.

Modi and Putin Share a Warm Hug

Before their formal talks, Modi and Putin hugged warmly. Consequently, the gesture highlighted their close ties and added weight to their meeting.

Always a delight to meet President Putin! pic.twitter.com/XtDSyWEmtw

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025

Xi Hosts a Grand Banquet

The summit officially began on Sunday evening with a grand banquet hosted by Xi Jinping. Besides Modi and Putin, several world leaders attended the dinner.

This year’s summit turned out to be the biggest in SCO history. Since China holds the presidency, it invited 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations. Furthermore, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also joined the event.

Xi Calls for Unity

In his address, Xi underlined that the SCO must safeguard regional peace and stability. He also noted that the bloc should push development among its members.

“With the concerted efforts of all parties, the summit will be a complete success,” Xi said. He further expressed confidence that the SCO would grow stronger, unite members, and strengthen global cooperation.

SCO’s Expanding Role

The SCO began in Shanghai in 2001 with six members. Since then, it has expanded into a 26-nation group with 10 members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners spread across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Notably, the bloc includes major economies like China, Russia, and India. As a result, it represents nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of the global economy.

Finally, the Tianjin summit is the largest-ever annual meet of the SCO. Leaders are expected to adopt key documents, including a development strategy for the next decade.