PM Modi Likely to Visit China for SCO Summit from Aug 31–Sept 1, May Club Japan Trip; First Visit Since Border Standoff

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, possibly combining the visit with a trip to Japan for the annual India-Japan summit, according to sources familiar with the matter.

If confirmed, this would mark Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 and the first after the eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in 2020. His last formal interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024—their first structured meeting in five years.

During that meeting, PM Modi had underscored the importance of peace and stability along the border, saying:

“Excellency, we welcome the agreements we have reached over the border. Maintaining peace and tranquillity should remain our priority, and mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity must form the basis of our relationship.”

President Xi responded by calling for greater communication and cooperation between the two nations and emphasized the need to properly handle differences. He also urged India and China to jointly shoulder international responsibilities and lead efforts to strengthen unity among developing countries.

Steps Toward Rebuilding Ties

In June 2025, India and China agreed to resume talks on economic and trade-related issues to stabilize bilateral relations. This followed a meeting in New Delhi between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Both sides also agreed to expedite the resumption of direct air services, suspended since 2020.

Friction Remains on Security Issues

Despite diplomatic engagement, tensions remain. During the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao in June, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the joint communique due to its failure to mention the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The communique, however, referenced the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan, leading to India’s objection.

While China initially backed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, it later shifted its stance after the US designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack—as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. Following the designation, China publicly condemned the attack and called for stronger regional counterterrorism cooperation.

“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. “We urge regional countries to enhance cooperation to jointly maintain security and stability.”