PM Narendra Modi will travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The meeting will take place in Tianjin on August 31. This will be Modi’s first trip to China since 2018.
The announcement came during talks in New Delhi between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both sides described the visit as an important step in reviving bilateral ties after years of tension.
Doval Sees ‘New Energy’
During the meeting, Doval spoke of “new energy” in India-China relations. He underlined that both nations have made progress since last year’s agreement on border patrolling. That agreement reduced a five-year standoff along the Himalayan frontier.
#WATCH | Delhi: During meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says, “The Chinese side attaches great importance to the Prime Minister’s visit to China to attend the SCO summit at our invitation. We believe that Indian side will also make contribution to a… pic.twitter.com/Go1mNAly89
— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2025
The move had also started to revive trade, investment, and air travel between the two Asian giants. Doval stressed that dialogue must now move toward settling pending issues and building trust.
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Wang Yi’s Optimism
Wang Yi, on his part, expressed China’s strong commitment to Modi’s upcoming visit. He said Beijing attaches “great importance” to the Prime Minister’s presence at the SCO Summit. Yi noted that history and reality both prove the need for stable ties between the two countries.
He argued that such relations serve the long-term interests of India and China. He also said developing countries worldwide want to see cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing.
Border and Bilateral Talks
Yi and Doval discussed ways to resolve boundary questions. They agreed to advance consultations and identify concrete goals for the next round of talks.
Both sides recognised that reducing border friction is essential to improving bilateral trust. Yi said he is ready to work closely with Doval to create the right conditions for growth in ties.
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A Diplomatic Reset
Beyond the SCO agenda, Modi’s visit signals a broader reset. The two countries had been locked in sharp disputes since the border clashes in 2020. Political discourse and trade had suffered. Now that high-level discussions have resumed, both parties are experimenting with a cautious approach to collaboration.
For India, relations with China are still vital for both regional stability and international fora like the SCO. As international rivalries intensify, China sees the visit as a chance to defuse tensions with a crucial neighbour.
Shaping Future Relations
The SCO Summit in Tianjin could set the tone for a new phase in India-China ties. While challenges remain, both nations are signalling pragmatism.
PM Modi’s presence at the summit, alongside his talks with Chinese leaders, will reveal how far this new “energy” can go in reshaping one of Asia’s most vital relationships.
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