New Delhi | August 6, 2025 : In a significant diplomatic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, scheduled from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin. This will mark his first visit to China since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which led to a serious deterioration in India-China relations.

Diplomatic Reset on the Horizon?
PM Modi’s last visit to China was in 2019. Though he did meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, this visit marks the first time he will set foot on Chinese soil post-Galwan. The decision signals an attempt by both countries to recalibrate ties, restore dialogue, and engage in more structured diplomacy.

India’s participation in the summit also comes at a time when the global landscape is shifting. With the United States under President Donald Trump imposing fresh tariffs and pressuring India over oil imports from Russia, New Delhi seems to be seeking a more balanced foreign policy approach — one that includes renewed dialogue with Beijing.

Regional Tensions and Security Concerns
This summit also follows a series of tense diplomatic exchanges over the past year. In June 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh notably refused to sign a joint SCO defence statement that omitted any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Instead, the statement referenced Balochistan — a move seen as a diplomatic dig at India, allegedly orchestrated by Pakistan.

However, in a surprising shift the following month, China issued a stern statement against terrorism, condemning the Pahalgam attack and urging enhanced regional counter-terrorism efforts. This was after the US officially designated The Resistance Front — a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy — as a foreign terrorist organisation for its involvement in the attack.

“China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, calling for stronger regional cooperation.

Possible Bilateral Talks on the Sidelines
With tensions still simmering but dialogue cautiously resuming, there is a strong possibility that PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with both President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO Summit. If confirmed, this would be a crucial step forward in addressing not only the India-China border situation but also strengthening trilateral discussions involving trade, security, and regional stability.

Rebuilding Ties through Yatra and Dialogue
Efforts to normalise India-China relations have been underway since late 2024. The resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra — a symbolic and spiritual pilgrimage for Indians that passes through Chinese-controlled territory — played a key role in softening ties and rebuilding public confidence.

About the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 to promote regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation. It currently includes 10 member states: China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This year’s summit will focus on regional security, anti-terrorism cooperation, trade, and connectivity.

As India prepares for this pivotal visit, all eyes will be on Tianjin to see whether the Modi-Xi meeting can script a new chapter in the often-frosty India-China relationship.