Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking his first visit to the country since 2018.
The trip comes at a time of recalibrated diplomacy, following his February visit to Washington, D.C., where he and U.S. President Donald Trump launched the “U.S.-India COMPACT” initiative to deepen strategic and economic cooperation.
Modi’s participation in the SCO Summit signals a renewed effort to stabilise India-China relations, which have been strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. His last visit to China was for the SCO Summit in Qingdao and an informal meeting with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan.
Since then, bilateral ties deteriorated sharply, culminating in deadly border skirmishes and a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Efforts to mend ties gained traction after Modi and Xi met in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. That meeting paved the way for troop disengagement in key flashpoints and the resumption of symbolic exchanges like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
The Tianjin summit is expected to address regional security, counterterrorism, and trade cooperation. While no formal bilateral meeting with Xi has been confirmed, informal interactions are anticipated.
Modi’s visit may also include discussions on resuming direct flights, reopening border trade points, and expanding people-to-people exchanges.
Before heading to China, Modi will stop in Tokyo on August 30 for the annual India-Japan Summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The visit comes amid internal political pressure on Ishiba following recent electoral setbacks.
Talks are expected to cover trade, security, and Indo-Pacific cooperation, especially in light of evolving dynamics within the Quad alliance.
India’s outreach to East Asia appears to be a strategic counterbalance to growing tensions with the Trump administration, particularly over tariffs and energy policy.
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Modi’s twin visits to Japan and China reflect a nuanced diplomatic posture aimed at maintaining regional stability while safeguarding India’s strategic interests.
Modi visits the U.S.
Narendra Modi’s official working visit to Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2025, marked a significant boost in U.S.-India relations.
Hosted by President Donald Trump, the meeting reaffirmed the strength of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and launched the U.S.-India COMPACT, a transformative initiative covering defense, commerce, and technology.
Key highlights included a planned 10-year Major Defense Partnership Framework, with agreements for expanded U.S. arms sales and co-production, including “Javelin” anti-tank missiles and “Stryker” combat vehicles.
The U.S. also pledged to streamline defense trade regulations and fast-track technology transfers.
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In trade, both leaders launched “Mission 500”, an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. They announced upcoming negotiations for a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by Fall 2025. Early tariff reductions by both sides on select goods were welcomed as signs of mutual commitment.
Energy security, nuclear cooperation, and supply chain resilience also featured prominently. The leaders are committed to deepening collaboration in civil nuclear energy, with a focus on large-scale localization and advanced reactor development in India.
The U.S. expressed firm support for India’s bid to join the International Energy Agency. In technology, the two leaders unveiled the U.S.-India TRUST initiative and committed to AI infrastructure, semiconductors, and critical minerals cooperation. A new INDUS Innovation bridge was launched to strengthen academic and industry ties.
They also emphasized people-to-people ties, mobility frameworks, and joint efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime.
Modi is expected to host Trump in New Delhi later in 2025 for the Quad Leaders’ Summit.
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