PM Modi Likely to Visit China for SCO Summit — First Trip in 7 Years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, scheduled for August 31 to September 1. If confirmed, this would mark Modi’s first visit to China in seven years and comes at a time of delicate geopolitical dynamics in the region.

According to high-level sources, preparations are underway to finalise the Prime Minister’s visit. On the sidelines of the summit, Modi may also hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping — a significant diplomatic engagement given recent military tensions and broader geopolitical friction, including China’s growing ties with Pakistan and tensions with the US over trade and energy issues.

The two leaders last met in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. That meeting laid the groundwork for the final stages of military disengagement at key friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Troop withdrawal at those sites was completed in November 2024.

Since then, New Delhi and Beijing have been cautiously working to stabilise relations, with resumed cultural and diplomatic exchanges, including the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and issuance of visas for Chinese tourists. Talks to revive direct flight connectivity are also ongoing.

However, recent developments have again strained ties. In May 2025, India obtained intelligence indicating China’s direct support to Pakistan during the conflict following Operation Sindoor — including supply of weapons, drones, and real-time intelligence assistance.

Modi’s last visit to China was also for an SCO Summit — held in Qingdao in June 2018. Xi Jinping, in turn, visited India in October 2019, just months before the Ladakh standoff began in May 2020.

While the disengagement at key flashpoints is complete, around 50,000 to 60,000 troops remain deployed on either side of the LAC. Both countries continue to engage in talks aimed at de-escalation and eventual withdrawal.

A final decision on the Prime Minister’s visit is expected soon, with an official announcement pending confirmation.

In the months following the Kazan meeting, high-level Indian officials — including NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri — have visited China for diplomatic and security talks. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also travelled to Tianjin last month to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting.