Virtual SCO Summit Rules Out Xi And Putin's Anticipated Visit To India

In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to India for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit has been ruled out due to the virtual format of the event.

The SCO, an eight-member organization dominated by China, will hold its Council of Heads of State Summit virtually on 4 July, as announced by India, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the organization.

The SCO summit will take place just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his state visit to the United States, which is likely to occur between 21 and 24 June.

While the SCO Summit will not witness the presence of Xi and Putin, the two leaders might visit India later this year for the G20 Summit.

The upcoming G20 Summit in India could provide a crucial platform for India and China to address their strained bilateral relationship.

Recent unilateral actions by the People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control have led to a tense military standoff and increased troop deployments along the frontier with Tibet.