Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month, according to a report by Reuters.
The summit will be held in Tianjin on August 31 and 1 September 1. This would mark Modi’s first visit to China in more than seven years, as the two countries continue attempts to ease tensions following the 2020 border clashes. Modi and Xi last met in October 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. The proposed meeting assumes significance as India’s trade relations with the US have deteriorated in recent months due to President Donald Trump’s tariff diktat. Washington this week imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India in response to its purchase of Russian oil.
Indian foreign ministry official Tanmaya Lal told Reuters that New Delhi’s priorities at the SCO include trade, connectivity and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Analysts say China is likely to use the summit to project its influence. Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, told NDTV that Xi would want to present an alternative to a US-led international order, despite efforts by Washington since January to counter China, Iran, Russia and now India.
