PM Modi Arrives in China After 7 Years to Attend SCO Summit; Bilateral Talks Scheduled with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin
Beijing, August 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached China after a gap of seven years to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, scheduled from August 31 to September 1. His visit follows a two-day tour of Japan and is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s regional and global diplomacy.
Apart from attending the summit, Modi is also set to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Key discussions are likely to include Putin’s planned state visit to India in December, trade cooperation, and regional security challenges.
Modi’s Visit Amid Global Trade Tensions
The timing of Modi’s visit is significant, as the global economy continues to reel under U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Trump recently imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports and a 30% tariff on Chinese goods, escalating tensions in international trade. With over 20 world leaders expected at the SCO Summit, Modi’s presence underscores India’s growing influence in multilateral platforms.
Recent Diplomatic Engagements with China
Just last month, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited China and held talks with President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Their discussions covered water resource data sharing, easing trade restrictions, reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and strengthening joint action against terrorism and extremism. Reports suggest that Jaishankar’s visit laid the groundwork for Modi’s trip to China.
Modi–Xi Meetings in the Past
The last meeting between Modi and Xi took place in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. During a 50-minute bilateral discussion, Modi emphasized that peace and stability along the border should remain the top priority. He stressed the importance of mutual trust, mutual respect, and sensitivity as the foundation of India-China relations.
Xi Jinping, on the other hand, last visited India in 2019 when he met Modi in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. That summit was considered a landmark attempt to strengthen bilateral ties and manage disputes amicably. Both leaders had then agreed to maintain peace and stability along the border.
The Significance of SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as a regional intergovernmental organization. India and Pakistan became members in 2017, while Iran is set to join in 2023.
The SCO’s primary objective is to enhance security, political, and economic cooperation among member states. It plays a vital role in developing joint strategies against terrorism, extremism, narcotics trafficking, and cybercrime, making it an influential bloc in Eurasian geopolitics.
Strategic Outlook
Analysts believe that Modi’s participation in the SCO Summit, alongside bilateral talks with Xi and Putin, will be crucial in addressing current geopolitical challenges. From managing India-China border tensions to balancing relations with Russia amid Western sanctions, Modi’s agenda is expected to set the tone for India’s foreign policy in the coming months.
