Leaders of China, Russia and India publicly displayed camaraderie at a Tianjin summit, greeting one another with hand-holding, smiles and laughter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping formed a close circle and exchanged words before translators joined. The gestures aimed to convey a close Xi–Putin bond and signal that India maintains important friendships, including with China, despite unresolved border disputes. Analysts linked the optics to reactions against chaotic U.S. trade policies and said such policies push other countries toward alternatives. China and Russia used the gathering to rally partners across Central and South Asia.
It was a scene in eastern China almost certainly intended for an audience on the other side of the world: The leaders of China, Russia and India, the three largest powers not aligned with the West, smiling and laughing like good friends as they greeted each other at a summit Monday. It starts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Vladimir Putin of Russia holding hands and walking into a meeting hall filled with other world leaders.
They head straight for President Xi Jinping of China, shake hands and form a close circle. A few words are exchanged before translators join the huddle. Putin cracks a broad smile, and Modi lets out a big laugh. At one point, Modi joins hands with the two leaders. The tableau carried multiple messages, analysts said. The bonhomie between Xi and Putin was meant to convey a close bond between them as leaders of an alternative world order challenging the United States.
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