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

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.