Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China from August 31 to September 1, 2025, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. This marks his first visit to China in over seven years, amid a period of strained relations between the two countries.
The last significant meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping occurred on October 23, 2024, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. Prior to that, Modi’s last official visit to China was in 2018. Since then, diplomatic relations between India and China have experienced turbulence, stemming from border tensions, trade disputes, and regional security concerns.
The bilateral relationship faced a major setback in May 2020, when a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh escalated following Chinese incursions. The confrontation led to casualties on both sides and strained diplomatic ties. Both nations engaged in multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks to ease tensions and restore stability along the border.
In October 2024, India and China reached a Border Patrol Agreement to de-escalate tensions and restore normal patrol activities in disputed areas such as the Depsang Plains and Demchok. This agreement was seen as a significant step toward stabilizing border relations and rebuilding trust. However, challenges have persisted. In May 2025, India reportedly discovered evidence of Chinese assistance to the Pakistan military during hostilities following Operation Sindoor, raising concerns over China’s support for regional adversaries and complicating bilateral ties further.
During the SCO summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral discussions with President Xi Jinping on regional security, trade, connectivity, and other global issues. The summit brings together over 20 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and is seen as an opportunity to strengthen ties within the Global South and address shared challenges.
In addition to border and security discussions, the visit may address economic cooperation, technological partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges, including the resumption of the Mansarovar Yatra, Chinese tourist visas, and the revival of direct flights between the two countries. Analysts note that rebuilding trust after years of tension requires careful diplomacy, as both nations seek to balance strategic rivalry with economic collaboration.
As PM Modi prepares for this significant diplomatic engagement, global observers will closely watch the outcomes of his interactions with President Xi Jinping and other leaders at the SCO summit. The visit carries the potential to further stabilize India-China relations, foster regional cooperation, and enhance dialogue on pressing geopolitical and economic issues.
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