PM Modi to Visit China for SCO Summit, First Trip Since Galwan Clash

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first trip to the country since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. His last visit to China was in 2019.

Ahead of the SCO summit, PM Modi will travel to Japan on August 30 for the annual India-Japan Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, before flying to China, according to reports.

The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly with the United States. US President Donald Trump recently criticised BRICS nations for continuing oil imports from Russia, accusing the bloc of challenging the dominance of the US dollar. Trump has also targeted India with a 25% tariff over its trade relations with Russia, warning of further penalties.

While Russia is expected to participate in the Tianjin summit, it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin will attend in person.

In the run-up to PM Modi’s visit, top Indian officials have already engaged in SCO-related talks in China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held key meetings in Beijing, followed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao this June, Rajnath Singh declined to endorse a joint statement that allegedly attempted to water down India’s position on terrorism. The move followed reported efforts by China and Pakistan, both SCO members, to exclude any mention of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. Instead, the draft statement included references to Balochistan, viewed in India as a pointed attempt to accuse India of fuelling unrest in Pakistan.China currently holds the SCO chair. The grouping comprises nine member nations: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.