PM Modi to Visit China for SCO Summit, First Trip in Seven Years

New Delhi, Aug 30:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Beijing next week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first visit to China since 2018. The development comes at a crucial juncture when relations between New Delhi and Beijing remain strained due to lingering border tensions.

According to diplomatic officials, the agenda will likely focus on strengthening border management protocols, enhancing trade cooperation, and reopening stalled communication channels. While recent disengagements in some friction zones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have lowered the risk of confrontation, both nations continue to maintain heavy troop deployments in sensitive areas.

The visit also comes against the backdrop of rising economic challenges, particularly after the United States imposed fresh tariffs on Indian goods, raising concerns among exporters. Experts suggest that Modi’s China outreach may be aimed at balancing India’s regional diplomacy and preventing further deterioration of bilateral ties.

However, analysts caution against expecting major breakthroughs. “Optics may improve, but hard compromises on the border dispute remain unlikely,” said a former diplomat familiar with India-China negotiations.

If the visit leads to even a modest easing of tensions, observers note it could pave the way for gradual normalization of ties, something both sides have avoided since the 2020 Galwan clashes.