PM Modi to Attend SCO Summit in China, Marking First Visit Since 2020 Galwan Clash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This will be his first visit to China since the Galwan Valley incident in 2020. Modi's last visit to China was in 2019, although he did meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.
The timing of this visit is significant amid geopolitical tensions, as the United States, led by President Donald Trump, has recently imposed high tariffs on India and pressured New Delhi over its oil purchases from Russia. Analysts view Modi's visit as part of India's strategy to balance relations between major global powers. The summit occurs in a complex backdrop, with China backing Pakistan and the effects of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities, still being felt.
In June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chose not to endorse a joint SCO statement that did not refer to the Pahalgam attack but did mention Balochistan, aligning with Pakistan’s viewpoint. Nevertheless, in July, China clearly condemned the Pahalgam incident following the U.S. designation of The Resistance Front, associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a foreign terrorist entity.
During the SCO summit, leaders from 10 member countries are anticipated to discuss key issues such as counterterrorism, regional security, and trade collaboration. There is also the possibility of bilateral talks between PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.
Since Modi and Xi's meeting in Kazan last year, India and China have initiated measures to ease border tensions, with actions such as the resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra indicating improved relations. The SCO, formed in 2001, aims to enhance regional stability and cooperation among its members, which include Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
