Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin was visible for all to see, as he arrived at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Xi’s car and later departed alongside Putin in his own armoured vehicle.
During his two-day China visit for the summit, PM Modi travelled in China’s Hongqi L5 limousine, the same model used as President Xi’s state car and reserved for senior Chinese officials and select foreign leaders. Mr Xi had also used this vehicle during his 2019 visit to India for talks with PM Modi.
Following the summit, PM Modi departed with President Putin in his Aurus Senat, a Russian-made luxury limousine he normally uses for overseas visits, for their official bilateral talks.
Reports indicated that Mr Putin was content to ride with him from the conference center to the hotel where they had their scheduled meeting and waited for around 10 minutes for PM Modi to arrive. The two leaders were engaged in conversation with each other for almost an hour in the vehicle, even after arrival at the meeting venue.
"After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful," PM Modi posted on X, along with a picture of the two leaders in the car.
The official bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Mr Putin lasted 45 minutes.
The talks came against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's criticism of India's acquisition of Russian crude oil, blaming New Delhi for funding Mr Putin's war in Ukraine.
Since becoming President in January, Mr Trump, who had campaigned on ending the conflict in Russia and Ukraine, has slapped a 50% duty on Indian imports, including a 25% on Russian oil imports.
India reacted by terming the duties "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."
"The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," the Ministry of External Affairs said last month.
The statement went on to say that it was "extremely unfortunate" that the US imposed extra tariffs on India for something that "several other countries are also taking in their own national interest"
"India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," it added.
Read also| PM Modi’s Gesture Triggers Surge in Japanese Investment in India
