Modi Heads to China: A High-Stakes SCO Summit With Xi Jinping
Published Date: 19th Aug, 2025
August 19, 2025
A Landmark Acceptance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin later this month. The decision marks Modi’s first visit to China since 2019, a period marked by both cooperation and intense tensions, especially following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
Why This Visit Matters
The invitation was delivered personally by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, underscoring Beijing’s intent to reset ties with India. For New Delhi, Modi’s acceptance signals a willingness to re-engage at the highest level while testing the sincerity of China’s overtures toward stability and predictability in bilateral relations.
SCO as a Strategic Stage
The SCO Summit, scheduled for August 31 to September 1, will bring together leaders from across Eurasia to discuss security, energy, and regional cooperation. Modi’s presence is expected to spotlight issues ranging from terrorism and cross-border trade to energy partnerships and the role of Russia in the bloc’s evolving agenda.
Rebuilding Broken Bridges
Modi emphasized that India and China have made steady progress in dialogue and that ties are becoming more constructive. Both nations are gradually restoring connectivity, with direct flights set to resume, border trade restarting, and channels of military communication re-opened. These steps are aimed at preventing misunderstandings and rebuilding confidence.
Balancing Diplomacy and Realism
While the visit carries hope, it also comes with challenges. India continues to monitor Chinese activities along the Himalayan frontier, wary of repeating past mistakes. At the same time, Beijing is keen to demonstrate that its partnership with India can coexist alongside strategic rivalries. For Modi, the challenge lies in projecting openness without compromising on national security concerns.
A Wider Geopolitical Context
The timing of Modi’s China visit also reflects India’s broader diplomatic playbook. Just before arriving in Tianjin, Modi is expected to stop in Japan—underlining India’s role as a bridge between competing regional powers. His presence at the SCO will be watched closely not only by member states but also by global actors eager to gauge the trajectory of India–China relations.
What Lies Ahead
Key questions remain: Will this summit mark the beginning of a genuine thaw in India–China relations, or will it serve as another symbolic gesture with limited follow-through? Can Modi and Xi leverage the SCO framework to move past old disputes, or will unresolved border issues overshadow broader cooperation?
The answers may emerge in Tianjin, where two of Asia’s most powerful leaders will share a stage at a critical moment in regional and global politics.
Date: 19th Aug, 2025
