PM Modi to Visit China for SCO Summit Amid US Tariff Threats – First Trip After Galwan Clash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on August 31 and September 1. This will be Modi’s first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops.
Modi last visited China in 2018, making this his sixth trip to the country. Before heading to China, the Prime Minister will visit Japan on August 30 to participate in the India-Japan summit.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited China, where he met President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During these discussions, the two sides talked about sharing water resource data, reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), easing trade restrictions, and adopting a firm stance against terrorism and extremism. Media reports suggest that Modi’s upcoming China visit was planned during these meetings.
Last Modi-Xi Meeting Took Place in Russia
Modi and Xi Jinping last met in October 2024 during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. The two leaders also held a bilateral meeting, during which Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need to maintain peace and stability along the border. He said, “Mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity should form the foundation of our relationship.”
The visit comes at a time when global attention is focused on US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policy. Recently, Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports in response to India purchasing Russian oil and weapons, creating additional diplomatic and economic challenges for New Delhi.
