New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, marking his first trip to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops.

This will be Modi’s sixth visit to China as Prime Minister—the most by any Indian PM in 70 years. His last visit was in 2018, prior to the sharp deterioration in bilateral ties following the deadly military confrontation in Ladakh’s Galwan region.

Ahead of the China visit, Modi will travel to Japan on August 30 to participate in the India-Japan summit, further underscoring India's active regional diplomacy.

The groundwork for Modi’s China visit was reportedly laid during a visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Beijing last month. Jaishankar held high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussing key bilateral issues including data sharing on water resources, trade restrictions, border tensions along the LAC, and counter-terrorism efforts.

According to sources, Jaishankar briefed President Xi on the state of India-China relations, setting the tone for Modi’s upcoming visit. The last meeting between Modi and Xi took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, where they engaged in a 50-minute conversation. During the meeting, Modi emphasized that peace and stability on the border must be prioritized, and stressed the importance of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity as the foundation of bilateral relations.

Modi’s visit also comes at a time of rising global economic tensions, as US President Donald Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on India for its continued purchase of Russian oil and arms. India, after China, is the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil, currently importing 1.78 million barrels per day.

Chinese President Xi Jinping last visited India in 2019. The upcoming summit in China is expected to provide a platform for India and China to address unresolved tensions while also engaging on regional security and economic cooperation within the SCO framework.