Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China on Saturday for a two-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in the annual summit of the 10-member SCO bloc on August 31 and September 1. His bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to draw significant attention, especially amid a recent thaw in India-China ties.
The visit takes place against the backdrop of friction with Washington after the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports. While relations with the US remain strategically vital, New Delhi views keeping communication open with Beijing as an important step in diversifying its diplomatic and economic options.
Reset in India-China Relations
PM Modi’s China visit comes as a potential reset in ties, which have been marked by cooperation and confrontation. Relations fell to a low after the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, but recent diplomatic exchanges point to cautious attempts at rebuilding trust.
Despite political differences, China continues to be India’s second-largest trading partner, and New Delhi’s manufacturing ambitions remain tied to Chinese components and raw materials.
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The SCO summit itself holds wider significance. Originally formed to counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the bloc has expanded into a forum projecting an alternative to Western-led institutions. India’s active participation signals its intent to remain engaged across multiple platforms without overdependence on any single alliance.
For China, improving ties with India could dilute US-led containment strategies. For India, balancing relations with both Beijing and the West reflects its policy of multi-alignment in an increasingly polarised global environment.
