For his first trip to China since 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin on Saturday to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
India-China relations, which have developed through periods of engagement, caution, and current stabilization attempts, are expected to be reset diplomatically during the much-anticipated August 30-September 1 visit.
When PM Modi arrived, the Indian diaspora welcomed him with open arms. On the margins of the conference, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday for a major bilateral encounter.
India became the first non-socialist nation to recognize the People’s Republic of China when diplomatic ties were established on April 1, 1950. However, the boundary dispute in 1962 had a significant impact on relations. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1988 marked a turning point and the start of a slow normalization process.
Later significant turning points included: 2003: the creation of the Special Representatives mechanism on the boundary issue and the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited India in 2005 to establish a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership; President Xi visited India in 2014 to establish a Closer Developmental Partnership; and PM Modi visited China in return in 2015; Informal summits were held in Chennai in 2019 and Wuhan in 2018.
Following the confrontations over the Eastern Ladakh border in April and May 2020, relations deteriorated. However, recent actions have indicated a cautious reset, particularly the fruitful encounter between PM Modi and Xi Jinping at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan.
The two nations have managed to keep up a busy calendar of interactions, notably at multilateral events such as G20 Hangzhou (2016), BRICS Goa (2016), SCO Astana (2017), and G20 Bali (2022), in spite of certain failures.
The most recent encounter between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar took place during the 2025 SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in China, which was followed by Wang Yi’s visit to India for the 24th round of border talks at the Special Representatives level.
Both parties’ interest in stabilizing relations through organized discussion and doable steps to boost confidence has been highlighted by these discussions.
Launched in 2003, the Special Representatives method is still essential to handling the intricate boundary dispute. The most recent round, which took place in India this year, concentrated on disengagement initiatives in Eastern Ladakh. There have been 24 rounds to date. In addition to this, there are 27 rounds of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC); 19 meetings of Senior Commanders, the most recent of which took place on August 13–14, 2023; and water cooperation through the Expert-Level Mechanism, which has convened 14 times, most recently in June 2023, to exchange hydrological data and talk about emergency responses.
Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), these multi-track discussions have promoted transparency and prevented additional escalation.
China’s decision to remove long-standing prohibitions on the shipment of fertilizers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machinery to India was a significant development in 2025. The breakthrough, which might benefit India’s infrastructure, clean energy, and fertilizer sectors, followed the Jaishankar-Wang Yi summit in New Delhi in August 2025.
This step is viewed as a major confidence-building measure meant to reduce asymmetries and enable targeted collaboration in non-sensitive industries, even if bilateral trade has remained strong despite tensions.
One of the longest and most significant cultural ties between the two countries was revived in 2025 with the return of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a gesture that was warmly received by both countries. Additionally, all parties are negotiating the restoration of direct flight connectivity between key cities and have pledged to resume issuing visas to citizens.
It is anticipated that these actions will restore familiarity and trust in society, which is essential for long-term normalization.
On the fringes of the SCO Summit, PM Modi will see Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to Xi Jinping. Amid the lingering consequences of Trump-era tariffs, the two leaders are anticipated to talk about topics like as the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine as well as the stability of the world economy.
India continues to pursue a path of strategic autonomy even while international alliances change quickly. While maintaining its commitment to multipolar engagement and the national interest, New Delhi is strengthening its collaboration with a variety of partners. PM Modi’s first trip to China in seven years means much more than just a return to the SCO table as the summit progresses. In situations where interests align, it represents a possible strategic recalibration meant to manage tensions while promoting cooperation.
Read More
PM Modi’s trip in Japan presents an opportunity to strengthen current partnerships
Trump tariffs’small chunk’ of Indian economy, but there’s a chance to expand markets: Expert