Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Modi and Xi Shake Hands at Bishkek SCO Summit
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping met briefly at a large international meeting in Bishkek.
They shook hands and talked after leaders posed for a group photograph.
Their meeting was informal rather than a planned private discussion.
India and China have had difficult relations since soldiers clashed near their border in 2020.
The two countries have since taken some steps to move troops away from certain tense areas.
They have also restarted some talks about their border.
The meeting may be important because India is expected to host another major international meeting soon.
Xi Jinping is expected to attend that meeting in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping briefly spoke and shook hands at the SCO summit in Bishkek.
The informal interaction followed the summit’s group photograph and was not listed as a scheduled bilateral meeting.
The encounter came amid cautious efforts to stabilize India-China ties after the 2020 eastern Ladakh border clashes.
Both countries have reported disengagement at several Line of Actual Control friction points and revived boundary talks.
Xi is expected to attend the BRICS summit India will host in New Delhi, though the articles give different dates for the event.
- Who
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside leaders attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
- What
- They briefly interacted and shook hands after the summit group photograph.
- When
- During the 26th SCO summit; the articles identify the interaction as occurring on Tuesday but do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Why
- The interaction occurred as India and China pursue cautious efforts to stabilize relations after the 2020 border clashes and ahead of India’s planned BRICS summit.
- Event
- 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit
- Location
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Interaction
- Modi and Xi spoke briefly and shook hands after the group photograph
- India-China context
- Relations remain affected by the 2020 eastern Ladakh clashes, military tensions and a trade imbalance favoring China
- Border developments
- The countries have completed several disengagement rounds at friction points and revived the Special Representatives mechanism
- Related summit
- India is scheduled to host the BRICS summit in New Delhi; one article says September 12-13, while another says it begins September 11
- Other leaders mentioned
- Modi also met or interacted with Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian at the Bishkek gathering
