Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to China at the end of August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, his first visit to the country since 2018. The two day gathering from August 31 to September 1 will bring together leaders from more than 20 nations including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The summit comes at a delicate time for India. Relations with China have been strained since deadly border clashes in 2020, but recent diplomatic exchanges suggest a thaw. In early 2025 both sides agreed to restore direct flights after a five year freeze, while talks on border management have also resumed. Modi’s presence at the SCO signals India’s willingness to re engage with Beijing despite lingering mistrust.
For New Delhi the summit offers multiple opportunities. India is expected to push for a strong declaration against cross border terrorism in the final Tianjin statement, a long standing demand aimed at regional security. Modi will also seek to strengthen India’s strategic partnerships with China and Russia at a time when Washington’s rising tariffs are threatening India’s export industries. By engaging at the SCO, India hopes to ease economic pressure and secure a stronger footing in the evolving multipolar world order.
The optics are powerful. For the first time in years, Modi, Xi, and Putin will appear together in a show of solidarity that underscores the shifting balance of power beyond Western influence. Analysts suggest the visit could mark a turning point in India China relations and reshape diplomatic alignments across Asia.
