During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in China, there was a cordial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. The two leaders insisted on strengthening the relationship and moving forward. However, India maintained their strong opposition to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In this summit, most countries including Türkiye, Pakistan and Iran supported BRI, but India was the only country that refused to support it.

During the SCO meeting held in Beijing, India once again refused to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. India has not been in favor of BRI in any SCO summit or meeting so far. India’s objection to this project has been maintained for a long time and its stand is still the same.

These countries support BRI

Many important decisions were mentioned in the manifesto released after the SCO summit ended in the city of Tianjin, China. It also included China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was supported by countries such as Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. However, only India did not support the project among all the countries involved.

Why does India object to Bri?

India has always objected to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The biggest reason for this is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India has a clear attitude that PoK is an integral part of it and any third country has no right to do construction work there.

At the SCO Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed a tough stand on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In the presence of Xi Jinping and Shahbaz Sharif, PM Modi said without naming that it is mandatory to honor the sovereignty of another country in any project, otherwise he has no importance.

PM Modi further said that the connectivity that sidelines sovereignty does not instill trust nor does it mean. India believes that strong connectivity not only increases trade, but also opens new opportunities for development and mutual trust. From this point of view, India is working on projects like Chabahar port and International North-South Transport Corridor (Instc).

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The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin, China saw a different style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders reached the Ritz-Karlton Hotel sitting together in the Ores sedan car in Russia. Putin kept waiting for Prime Minister Modi for about 10 minutes. The two leaders reached the way and then reached the hotel and continued the discussion for about 45 minutes. During this time, there was a deep conversation on important issues like energy, defense and global trade.

Prime Minister Modi shared this unique carpool experience on X (East Twitter) and wrote that after action at the SCO summit site, President Putin and I went to the bilateral meeting venue. The conversation with them is always informative. This statement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has put tight tariffs on India to buy oil from Russia.

After the Proceedings at the Sco Summit Venue, President Putin and I Travelled Togetra to the Venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with Him are Always Insightful. pic.twitter.com/oyzvgdlxtc

– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025

Both the giants welcomed and hugged warmly
There was also a warm atmosphere between Modi and Putin at the conference site. The two leaders embraced and greeted each other. Its pictures and videos became very viral on social media. On this occasion, PM Modi wrote that it is always happy to meet President Putin! This meeting is considered very important from a political point of view. Up to 50 per cent tariffs on US exports of US exports have affected markets. In the midst of this, India’s purchase of concessional oil from Russia was the main point of bilateral discussion. Officials say that energy partnership and defense cooperation was the main agenda of this meeting.

Always a delight to meet president putin! pic.twitter.com/xtdsyweemtw

– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025

Photos with Modi, Putin and Xi Jinping
Another historical moment was seen at the SCO summit when Prime Minister Modi, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared together. Pictures of the three leaders smiling and warmly met.

PM Modi’s message in SCO
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi clarified India’s attitude towards SCO. He said that India’s priorities are based on three pillars.

• Security – Mass action against terrorism, especially recent Pahalgam attack.
• Connectivity – Emphasis on promotion of projects such as Chabahar port and north-south transport corridor.
• opportunity – Focused on strengthening regional cooperation and development.

PM Modi made an indirect comment on the CPEC of Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan without naming and said that the projects that ignore sovereignty lose confidence.

Bilateral meeting of Modi-Ki Jinping after 7 years
This summit was also important because the first bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping seven years later. Modi emphasized the need for India-China cooperation in dealing with terrorism. He also raised his concerns over terrorism across the border. The meeting took place after the 2020 Galwan struggle, which further increased its importance.

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It is said that only neighbors in trouble are useful, the same thing was clearly seen at the 25th SCO summit started in Tianjin, China, where Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping came face to face after years. This meeting took place after 7 years and at a time when America has increased the pressure on India to impose tariff by 50%. In such a situation, when the leaders of two big countries of Asia appeared to be standing together, the world’s eyes also stood on them.

Xi Jinping said on this occasion that India and China are counted among the oldest and largest civilized countries in the world. Both Global are an important part of South, in such a situation it is best to remain neighbor and friend. He also said that it is necessary to become friends and good neighbors and to come together with dragon and elephant. But do you know why China is called Dragon and India is called elephant? Let’s know this funny anecdote.

Why India was called an elephant?

Indeed, this symbolic comparison was first introduced by foreign media for the first time. In 2015, the New York Times during the Paris Climate Summit showed India in cartoons as a large and dull elephant, stopping the train of climate change. That is, India was described as a slow and obstructed country. At the same time, China got the image of the dragon, as the dragon is considered a symbol of power and boom in their culture.

Experts say that elephant for India began to be used more than the 1990s, when India started economic reforms, foreign magazines compared India to China. China was called a sharp and aggressive dragon, while India was sometimes said to be a dull and sometimes a lame elephant.

Canadian author David M. Malon does his book does the Elephant Dance? I wrote that India may run with slow steps, but is stable and strong like an elephant. Gradually, the word elephant became an international recognition for India.

Why did China become a dragon?

At the same time, the story of China is different. About 1800 years ago, the Han dynasty made Dragon a royal symbol. The emperor used to connect it with his strength and pride. Even today, dragon is considered a symbol of luck and prosperity in China. Whereas in the stories of Western countries, the dragon was shown as a dangerous monster.

Pandit Nehru’s animal diplomacy

India’s ties with elephants is also very old. From the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization to Lord Ganesha, the elephant has been an important part of Indian culture. After independence, Pandit Nehru also used the elephant in diplomacy. He sent elephants to the children of Canada and Japan, which was called animal diplomacy. That is, it is clear that this story of dragon and elephant is not just a symbol, but reflects the identity and thinking of both countries.

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