New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
This marks his first visit to the country since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which severely strained bilateral relations. Before his China visit, Modi is scheduled to visit Japan on August 30 for bilateral discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
This will be PM Modi’s sixth visit to China as India’s head of government, and the first since deadly border clashes in Eastern Ladakh, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops.
Ties between New Delhi and Beijing have remained tense since the 2020 incident, with recurring standoffs along the LAC. However, recent diplomatic engagement suggests a possible thaw.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Beijing and met with President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where discussions focused on water data sharing, trade restrictions, and the need to de-escalate military tensions along the disputed border.
North China’s Tianjin shines bright! 🌟 The new lighting upgrade illuminates bridges, buildings and plazas, merging historical charm with modern vibrance. Enjoy the night view on Haihe! 🌆#Tianjin #CityOfLights #nightview pic.twitter.com/0cut4i2ntJ
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 21, 2025
Modi and Xi held their first formal meeting in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, signaling a cautious willingness to restore dialogue.
Following that meeting, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that, “The two leaders affirmed that stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China, as two neighbors and the two largest nations on earth, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity.”
Modi’s visit also comes shortly after US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s ongoing energy and defense ties with Russia.
