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

PM Modi to Visit China for SCO Summit, First Trip Since Galwan Clash Signals Diplomatic Reset.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, marking his first visit to the country since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The summit, scheduled for August 31 to September 1, is being viewed as a significant step toward stabilising strained ties between the two neighbours.

PM Modi last visited China in 2019, though he briefly met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024. That meeting was followed by some progress in de-escalating border tensions, including the resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra — a move seen as a thaw in relations.

Strategic Timing Amid Global Shifts
The visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical pressure. With US President Donald Trump imposing steep tariffs and mounting global scrutiny over India’s energy ties with Russia, Delhi’s recalibration of relations with China could offer a strategic counterbalance to Western pressures.

India’s participation at the SCO summit also carries added weight given the recent Pahalgam terror attack and concerns over Chinese support to Pakistan. In April, a deadly assault in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, allegedly carried out by The Resistance Front — a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy later designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US.

While India expected strong condemnation from regional partners, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh notably refused to sign a joint statement at the SCO defence ministers’ meet in June. The draft failed to mention the Pahalgam attack but referred to unrest in Balochistan — a move widely seen as Pakistan-driven and indirectly targeting India.

However, in a notable shift, China issued a strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack in July. “China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said. He also called for enhanced counterterrorism cooperation in the region.

Summit Agenda and Possible Bilateral Talks
At the upcoming summit, the agenda is expected to focus on regional security, terrorism, and trade among the ten member states — which include China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and several Central Asian nations.

There is a strong possibility of bilateral meetings between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the summit. Such meetings could help further ease tensions and restore diplomatic momentum, especially amid global volatility.

Founded in 2001, the SCO is a regional security and economic bloc aimed at promoting cooperation and stability. It currently has 10 full members: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.