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Seven years after his last visit to China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin Saturday for the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, receiving a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora. At Binhai International Airport, he was greeted by senior Chinese and Indian officials, with members of the diaspora chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” to show their support.
Later, PM Modi enjoyed performances by Chinese artists playing Indian classical instruments such as sitar, santoor, and tabla.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by members of the Indian community upon his arrival at a hotel, in Tianjin, China. (@narendramodi/X)
“Landed in Tianjin, China. Looking forward to deliberations at the SCO Summit and meeting various world leaders,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Earlier, in a written interview to Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun Friday, PM Modi said: “This visit comes at a crucial time for India-China relations,” and noted the significance of bilateral ties for regional peace and prosperity. “Stable, predictable, and amicable relations between India and China, the two largest nations on Earth, can positively impact regional and global peace… This is also crucial for a multi-polar Asia and world,” he added.
Citing “the current volatility in the world economy”, PM said it is “important for India and China, as two major economies, to work together to bring stability to the world economic order”.
PM Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on India and ongoing trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington. The leaders are expected to focus on strengthening India-China relations, mending ties after the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, and enhancing cooperation on trade and regional stability.
Additionally, India and China plan to work on a settlement of the boundary question, with an expert group being set up to explore early solutions. They have also agreed to resume direct flight connectivity and streamline visa facilitation. PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit, discussing the impact of Trump’s tariffs, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed with a performance by artistes upon his arrival at a hotel, in Tianjin, China. (PMO via PTI Photo)
Modi and Xi last met in October 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Modi in New Delhi and handed him an invitation from Xi. Modi last travelled to China for the SCO summit in Qingdao in June 2018.
Before heading to China, Modi travelled to Tokyo for the annual India-Japan summit, where he met the Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba. The trip takes on added weight in light of the US tariffs, highlighted by deepening defence, technology and investment ties with Japan.
Japanese companies are also set to invest up to $68 billion in India over the next decade. Lauding the agreements, PM Modi said the “active participation will become a symbol of progress of humanity beyond the boundaries of the earth and in space”.
English (US) ·