PM set to visit China after 7 long years.
This highly anticipated meeting comes at a sensitive time, as tensions escalate between India and the United States over increased trade tariffs and New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The discussion between Modi and Xi will likely focus on regional stability, economic cooperation, and restoring diplomatic engagement after years of strained ties between the two Asian giants.
PM Modi’s First Visit to China in 7 Years Likely for SCO Summit Amid Diplomatic Crosscurrents
Preparations are underway for what could be a significant moment in India-China relations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, scheduled from August 31 to September 1. If the visit materializes, it will mark Modi’s first trip to China in seven years — the last being in 2018 — and will unfold against the backdrop of complex geopolitical challenges and regional recalibrations.
According to sources, discussions are ongoing to finalize the Prime Minister’s travel plans, with diplomatic and security teams working quietly behind the scenes to coordinate logistics and assess the evolving global scenario. For many in Delhi’s foreign policy circles, the visit holds symbolic and strategic significance, not just for SCO deliberations, but also for the high-stakes bilateral dialogue expected to take place on its sidelines.
Modi is likely to hold a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping — a meeting that, if confirmed, would be closely watched both in Asia and globally. It comes at a time of rising tension between New Delhi and Washington over India’s purchase of Russian oil and the recent imposition of steep tariffs by the United States. While India has tried to maintain a balanced diplomatic stance, these developments have put pressure on its traditionally strong relationship with the U.S., creating space for nuanced diplomacy with China.
That meeting, held discreetly but with high expectations, played a pivotal role in thawing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Following their conversation, India and China moved toward disengagement at two key friction points in the region — a major step after more than four years of military standoff.
The eastern Ladakh crisis had erupted in May 2020, when Chinese troops made incursions across the LAC, triggering a massive military build-up on both sides. At the height of the standoff, over 60,000 troops from each nation were deployed in the region under harsh weather conditions and high-altitude pressure. Though both countries have now completed disengagement in the most volatile areas, around 50,000 to 60,000 troops still remain stationed along the LAC, maintaining a fragile peace as discussions continue on full de-escalation and eventual withdrawal.
The Kazan meeting laid the foundation for cautious optimism. In the months that followed, both nations took small but deliberate steps toward mending ties. Visa processing for Chinese tourists to India quietly resumed. Talks also began on reviving direct commercial flights between the two countries, which have remained largely suspended since the onset of COVID-19.
However, these positive signs suffered a setback in May 2025, when Indian intelligence reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting Chinese military support to Pakistan during a brief but intense period of hostilities following India’s Operation Sindoor. The revelations created new friction, slowing down the already delicate thaw between Delhi and Beijing.
Despite this, diplomats on both sides appear to be cautiously navigating their way forward. The upcoming SCO Summit presents a platform for regional cooperation on security, counter-terrorism, and economic development — issues that concern both nations deeply, especially in the wake of global instability and shifting alliances.
If Modi’s visit goes ahead, it will send a message that India remains committed to multilateral engagement, even with countries it shares a complicated history with. It also signals that New Delhi is willing to maintain channels of communication with Beijing, despite unresolved issues.
But dialogue, however tentative, may be the only way forward. And a handshake in Tianjin, seven years since Modi last stepped on Chinese soil, could be the first of many steps toward redefining the relationship — not as adversaries, but as pragmatic neighbors in a volatile world.