Four Leaders, One Frame at SCO

A striking diplomatic moment unfolded at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared together in the official group photograph.

The leaders gathered at Bishkek’s Yrys Ordo Congress Hall for the traditional family photograph during the 26th SCO Summit. Modi was also seen briefly exchanging words with Xi Jinping and Putin as leaders posed for the cameras.

The photograph brought together leaders from several major powers at a time when global geopolitical tensions remain high. Along with Modi, Xi, Putin and Sharif, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon were among those attending the summit.

Kyrgyzstan is hosting this year’s SCO summit, with President Sadyr Japarov chairing the gathering. A roundtable discussion was also held at the same venue, focusing on regional and global issues and cooperation among member countries.

The summit comes amid several important diplomatic developments for India. On Monday, Prime Minister Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on bilateral relations, including trade, investment, energy and defence cooperation.

During the meeting, Modi also stressed the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Referring to Putin as “my friend”, Modi said there was a need to move from an “endless war to end of war”. Putin responded that Russia was moving in that direction.

Modi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the summit. The meeting marked their first face-to-face interaction in two years.

The 26th SCO Leadership Summit has brought together representatives from 10 member states, along with partner and observer countries. Discussions at the summit are centred on strengthening cooperation, regional stability, connectivity and other shared concerns.

The presence of Modi, Xi, Putin and Sharif in the same frame has drawn particular attention, highlighting the SCO’s role as a platform where leaders with differing geopolitical interests come together for dialogue.