PM Modi Reaches Tianjin, China for SCO Summit, First Visit in 7 Years

International

oi-Ruchika Pareek

Updated: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 17:22 [IST]

Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
reached
Tianjin,
China,
on
Saturday,
marking
his
first
visit
to
the
country
in
more
than
seven
years.
The
visit
comes
at
a
crucial
time
for
India’s
foreign
policy
as
global
economic
and
strategic
challenges
intensify.

Modi’s
arrival
in
China
followed
the
conclusion
of
his
official
trip
to
Japan,
where
he
worked
to
strengthen
bilateral
cooperation
in
areas
such
as
transport,
space
exploration,
and
trade.
The
successful
Japan
leg
of
his
tour
set
the
stage
for
a
significant
engagement
in
China,
where
both
regional
and
global
issues
are
on
the
table.

During
his
stay,
which
continues
until
September
1,
Modi
is
scheduled
to
hold
an
important
bilateral
meeting
with
Chinese
President
Xi
Jinping.
The
two
leaders
are
expected
to
review
the
current
state
of
India-China
economic
ties
and
deliberate
on
measures
aimed
at
easing
tensions
and
further
normalising
relations.
This
meeting
carries
weight
as
both
nations
seek
to
balance
cooperation
with
competition
while
navigating
sensitive
regional
dynamics.

In
addition
to
bilateral
talks,
the
Prime
Minister
will
participate
in
the
Shanghai
Cooperation
Organisation
(SCO)
summit.
The
annual
gathering
of
member
states
is
taking
place
against
the
backdrop
of
rising
global
trade
frictions.
For
India,
the
summit
assumes
added
significance
due
to
the
recent
imposition
of
50%
tariffs
by
the
United
States
on
Indian
goods,
a
move
that
took
effect
on
Wednesday.
The
tariffs
have
raised
concerns
about
their
potential
impact
on
India’s
exports
and
overall
trade
balance,
making
discussions
with
regional
partners
even
more
critical.

Modi’s
presence
at
the
SCO
summit
is
expected
to
reaffirm
India’s
role
in
the
multilateral
body
while
also
signalling
New
Delhi’s
intent
to
strengthen
economic
and
security
cooperation
with
Eurasian
partners,
including
China,
at
a
time
of
shifting
global
equations.