Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached China on Saturday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. The summit will be held in Tianjin on August 31–September 1.
A key highlight of the trip will be Modi’s bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders are expected to review India-China economic relations and discuss ways to stabilize ties strained by the eastern Ladakh border dispute. Modi will also hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
In his departure statement, Modi said India has played an “active and constructive role” in SCO, introducing initiatives in innovation, health, and cultural exchanges. He also stressed the importance of India and China working together to bring stability to the global economic order, especially amid global trade tensions.
This visit comes just weeks after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to India, signaling fresh attempts to reset relations since the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. Modi last visited China in 2018, while Xi Jinping visited India in 2019.
(With inputs from PTI)
