Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, marking his first trip to the country since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash strained India-China relations. Sources indicate that Modi will also visit Japan around August 29 before heading to China, though official confirmation is pending.
The visit comes amid efforts to mend bilateral ties, which hit a low following the deadly military standoff in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. The clash, part of a broader border dispute that began in May 2020, significantly disrupted relations between the two nations. However, a disengagement agreement finalized on October 21, 2024, resolved tensions at the last two friction points in Demchok and Depsang, effectively ending the standoff.
Recent months have seen both countries take steps to rebuild ties. A key meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 23, 2024, in Kazan, Russia, paved the way for reviving dialogue mechanisms, including the Special Representative talks on the boundary issue. The two sides have also resumed initiatives like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and India’s issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals. Discussions are underway to restore direct flight services between the two countries.
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Modi’s last visit to China was in June 2018 for the SCO summit, while Xi visited India in October 2019 for an informal summit. The upcoming SCO summit, chaired by China, is expected to see participation from other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. It remains unclear whether Modi and Xi will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit.
The diplomatic engagements of Indian officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who attended SCO meetings in China over the past two months, reflect a gradual warming of ties. The SCO summit provides a platform for India and China to continue rebuilding trust and addressing lingering issues from the border dispute.
As Modi prepares for this significant visit, the focus will be on whether the two nations can sustain this momentum toward stronger bilateral relations while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.
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