The Chinese language metropolis of Tianjin is ready to turn into the middle of worldwide consideration for the following two days because it hosts the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The high-profile occasion will witness important bilateral engagements, bringing collectively Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese language President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the identical platform to strengthen ties. This go to is especially notable because it marks PM Modi’s first journey to China since 2018, underscoring the significance of ties between India and China.
Prime Minister Modi landed in China on Saturday, August 30, after finishing his two-day go to to Japan. He was warmly obtained by the Indian diaspora upon arrival. On Sunday, he’s scheduled to carry a big bilateral assembly with Chinese language President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit.
India-China Ties In 1950
India and China established diplomatic relations on April 1, 1950, with India changing into the primary non-socialist nation to recognise the Folks’s Republic of China. Nevertheless, ties suffered a significant setback after the 1962 border conflict. A turning level got here in 1988, when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, beginning a gradual means of normalisation.
A number of conferences have taken place to strengthen bilateral relations between India and China. Among the many essential milestones had been Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s go to in 2003, which targeted on talks relating to the boundary concern, adopted by Chinese language Premier Wen Jiabao’s go to in 2005. In 2014, President Xi Jinping visited India, throughout which either side agreed on establishing a Nearer Developmental Partnership. Later, in 2018 and 2019, casual summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi in Wuhan and Chennai additional contributed to constructing belief and cooperation.
India-China Stress In 2020
Relations between India and China grew tense after the Jap Ladakh border clashes in April–Might 2020, however current developments, notably the optimistic assembly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, recommend a cautious reset. Regardless of setbacks, each nations have continued to have interaction often by means of multilateral platforms, together with the G20 in Hangzhou (2016) and Bali (2022), the BRICS Summit in Goa (2016), and the SCO Summit in Astana (2017)
In the meantime, Exterior Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi have met a number of occasions, most just lately throughout the 2025 SCO International Ministers’ Assembly in China. These conferences have underlined either side’ curiosity in stabilising ties.
A number of Dialogue Between India And China
The Particular Representatives mechanism was launched in 2003, stays key to dealing with the complicated boundary concern between India and China. To date, 24 rounds have been held, with the newest in India this yr specializing in disengagement in Jap Ladakh.
Alongside this, there have been 27 rounds of the Working Mechanism for Session and Coordination (WMCC), 19 Senior Commanders’ conferences, the newest on 13–14 August 2023, and 14 conferences of the Knowledgeable-Stage Mechanism on water cooperation, which final met in June 2023 to share river knowledge and talk about emergencies.
Current Growth In India-China Relations
In 2025, China lifted long-standing restrictions on the export of fertilisers, uncommon earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines to India, following the August Jaishankar–Wang Yi assembly in New Delhi. The transfer is seen as a confidence-building step to spice up cooperation in infrastructure, clear vitality, and fertiliser sectors. Bilateral ties additionally noticed the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, restoration of visa issuance, and talks on restarting direct flight connectivity, marking renewed cultural and financial engagement regardless of previous tensions.
PM Modi, Xi Jinping will even meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. The 2 leaders are anticipated to debate points like the continuing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and world financial stability amid the lingering results of Trump-era tariffs.