Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China on Saturday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, marking his first visit in seven years. The visit comes amid growing tensions with the United States, particularly due to the 50% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump on India, along with a 25% penalty on Russian oil imports. Experts believe these tariffs have pushed India closer to both China and Russia.
Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, with a focus on enhancing bilateral ties. India-China relations have improved significantly since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and subsequent military standoff in Eastern Ladakh. Modi, speaking in Japan before the visit, emphasized the importance of stable India-China relations for regional and global peace.
The two nations have also agreed to continue working on resolving their boundary dispute, with an expert group being set up to explore solutions. Additionally, both countries are keen to resume direct flight connectivity and streamline visa facilitation.
Modi is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the impact of U.S. tariffs, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza. Despite growing ties with China and Russia, India maintains a non-aligned foreign policy, focusing on its national interests.