Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a crucial trip to China, scheduled to hold talks with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China on Saturday for his first visit in seven years, a trip that has taken on greater significance due to the sudden souring of India-US relations. The visit will see Modi hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The talks between Modi and Xi are expected to discuss further measures to normalise India-China ties, which have been strained due to border disputes. This meeting is a follow-up to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India this month. The leaders are expected to discuss ways to build on the progress made since last year regarding the border situation.

The bilateral engagements between Modi and Xi should not be seen as a pivot away from the US towards China and Russia. There are no plans for any discussions at any level under the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism. Instead, the initiatives include a target of Japanese private investments amounting to $68 billion over a decade, a sign of Modi's commitment to deepening economic ties with various countries.

Modi's meeting with Putin is set to focus on bolstering India-Russia cooperation in trade and defense, as well as the US pressure on India over Russian oil purchases. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov will discuss preparations for Putin's planned visit to India in December with Modi during the SCO Summit.

The SCO Summit is expected to strongly condemn cross-border terrorism, a move that Indian officials are working to ensure is strongly reiterated in the Summit declaration. This stance is particularly significant following India's Operation Sindoor, which saw tensions with Pakistan escalate. Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the SCO Summit, marking their first interaction since May.

The goal of the negotiations between Modi and Xi at the SCO summit was to demonstrate geopolitical strength and unity among member states against Western influence, promote regional peace, stability, and development, and maintain pragmatic cooperation despite underlying tensions. However, without yielding concrete groundbreaking agreements, the summit is expected to be a step towards a more stable and cooperative future in the region.

Modi flew to the Chinese city of Tianjin, the venue of the SCO Summit, and the resumption of direct flights between India and China is linked to an updated air services agreement, which is in the final stages of negotiation. The situation on the border between India and China has been "broadly stable".

During his visit to Japan, Modi and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba unveiled several initiatives to ramp up economic cooperation. The visit to China marks a continuation of Modi's efforts to strengthen India's relationships with key global players.

The SCO Summit, with its focus on regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation, is a testament to the growing importance of multilateral diplomacy in today's complex geopolitical landscape. As Modi navigates this landscape, his visit to China promises to be a significant step in India's foreign policy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a crucial trip to China, scheduled to hold talks with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.