@bloombergpolitics Narendra Modi is warming up to China and plans to meet President Xi Jinping next week. Menaka Doshi explains how Trump’s tariff barrage pushed Modi into action. #worldnews #Politics #geopolitics #India #China ♬ original sound - Bloomberg Politics

🎶 Play “Duppattawaali”—let the rhythm swirl like the colors of a spinning dupatta.

As the song begins, its playful yet poetic cadence wraps around you like silk in the wind. The lyrics speak of glances, gestures, and the delicate dance of connection. It’s a celebration of presence—of noticing, of being noticed. And in that spirit, we shift our gaze to Tianjin.

Two leaders. Two legacies. One moment.

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping meet after years of diplomatic frost. No grand declarations yet. Just a gesture. A glance. A “duppattawaali” moment—fleeting, but full of meaning. Like the swirl of a dupatta caught in a breeze, it’s light, but it lingers. It hints at possibility. At change.

The song’s imagery—rangoli, Diwali lights, and moonlit roads—evokes a world where beauty and symbolism matter. And so does diplomacy. In the choreography of geopolitics, even a subtle shift in posture can ripple across borders.

Let the music play. Let its warmth soften the edges of strategy. And as you read, imagine that glance between Modi and Xi—not just as a political gesture, but as a moment suspended in time, like the final note of a love song.

🎶 🇮🇳🌏🧳📉🛺🕊️🇨🇳🏮🐉🥢🇷🇺🪆❄️🎖️ 🔊 Duppattawaali by Justin Varghese, Sanjith Hegde, Suhail Koya, Anila Rajeev

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a pivotal four-day diplomatic tour, marking his first visit to China in over seven years.

With stops in Japan and Tianjin, the trip comes amid rising global trade tensions and renewed pressure from Washington. As India seeks to recalibrate its strategic posture, the meetings with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin signal a deliberate pivot toward multipolar engagement.

1️⃣🤝 Rebuilding Bridges with Beijing

India-China relations have remained strained since the 2020 border clashes. Modi’s presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin is a calculated move to thaw tensions and explore economic cooperation. Both sides are expected to discuss troop disengagement, trade barriers, and regional stability. The optics of Modi and Xi sharing a stage again could mark a subtle reset in bilateral ties.

2️⃣🌐 SCO Summit: A Stage for Strategic Signaling

The SCO, once a six-nation bloc, now includes 10 members and 16 observers. This year’s summit is the largest in its history. With Putin and Xi hosting, the event is positioned as a show of Global South solidarity. India’s participation underscores its intent to remain diplomatically agile—engaging with both Western and Eastern powers while asserting its sovereignty.

3️⃣💼 Japan: Technology, Trade, and Trust

Before China, Modi visits Tokyo for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. Talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba focus on AI, semiconductors, and strategic investments. Japan remains a key partner in India’s Indo-Pacific vision, and this leg of the trip reinforces Delhi’s commitment to balancing regional partnerships.

4️⃣📉 Tariffs and Tensions: The US Factor

The backdrop to Modi’s visit is Washington’s announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian imports. The move, tied to India’s energy ties with Russia, has prompted Delhi to diversify its trade dependencies. Modi’s outreach to China and Russia is seen as a counterweight to Western economic pressure, signaling India’s intent to chart an independent course.

5️⃣🎥 Trilateral Optics: Modi, Xi, and Putin

The summit’s most-watched moment will be the trilateral optics of Modi, Xi, and Putin together. With BRICS expanding and Western leaders distancing themselves from Moscow, India’s presence sends a message: it will engage on its own terms. Analysts expect incremental confidence-building, not dramatic breakthroughs—but even symbolic gestures could shift the tone of regional diplomacy.

🔚 Conclusion: Navigating the New World Order

Modi’s visit is more than a diplomatic tour—it’s a strategic recalibration. As global alliances shift and trade tensions rise, India is positioning itself as a bridge between blocs. Whether the meetings yield concrete outcomes or not, the symbolism of Modi’s presence in Tianjin speaks volumes about India’s evolving role in the global order.

#ModiInChina 🇮🇳 #SCO2025 🌐 #GlobalSouth 🤝 #TradeTensions 📉 #DiplomacyMatters 🕊️