Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in China after a seven-year absence; the encounter with Xi Jinping holdsWeight due to escalating tariff disagreements with the US.

Modi in China for SCO Summit and Bilateral Talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Tianjin, China, for a much-anticipated visit that includes attending the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on August 31 and September 1.

This visit marks Modi's first trip to China in over seven years, and it comes less than a fortnight after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India. The timing of the visit is significant, as it occurs amidst a downturn in India-US ties.

Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, scheduled on the margins of the SCO summit, assumes greater importance due to Washington's tariff tussle. The prime minister's statement emphasizes the importance of stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China for regional and global peace and prosperity.

The two sides have initiated a series of measures to reset their ties that came under severe strain following the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020. These measures include joint maintenance of peace along the contested frontier, reopening border trade, and resuming direct flight services.

Modi's visit to China also marks the second "informal summit" between the two leaders, following Xi Jinping's visit to India in October 2019. The prime minister was accorded a warm welcome at his hotel in Tianjin by a group of artists performing Indian classical music and dance.

During the SCO summit, Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders on the sidelines. The dates for Modi's visit to China and the SCO summit are August 31 and September 1, 2025.

It is worth noting that the eastern Ladakh face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21, 2021. This development is expected to pave the way for improved relations between the two countries.

The article was published on August 30, 2025, and Modi's last visit to China was to attend the SCO summit. The prime minister's trip to China comes at a crucial juncture, as both sides work towards strengthening their ties and bringing stability to the world economic order.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in China after a seven-year absence; the encounter with Xi Jinping holdsWeight due to escalating tariff disagreements with the US.