Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit China from August 31 to September 1, 2025, in order to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
This will mark PM Modi’s first official visit to China since 2018, and the first since the 2020 Galwan clash, which significantly strained relations between the two countries.
Modi met Xi Jinping at BRICS in Kazan
Modi did meet Chinese President Xi Jinping briefly on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, where border agreements began paving the way toward normalisation.
The visit is widely viewed as part of a broader diplomatic reset between India and China, amid rising global pressures including U.S. trade tensions and energy disagreements.
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25th SCO Summit
The 25th SCO Heads-of-State Summit is confirmed to take place in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, 2025. India may use this opportunity for bilateral dialogue, with potential meetings with Xi Jinping and Putin on the sidelines—focused on issues like trade, border management, counter‑terrorism, and regional security.
Broader Context
- The visit follows key trust-building steps such as the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals and the revival of direct flights and the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage
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Nevertheless, tensions remain over issues like terrorism discussions at SCO, where India objected to omission of the Pahalgam terror attack and references to Balochistan in official communiques, perceived as indirectly accusing India
If confirmed, this trip from August 31 to September 1, 2025, will be a pivotal moment in India–China diplomacy—marking a possible turning point in their bilateral relationship amid evolving geopolitical landscapes.
