PM Modi's Diplomatic Moves: Upcoming Visits to Japan and China Signal a Push for Stability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans high-profile visits to Japan in August for the annual summit and China in September for the SCO summit, aiming to stabilize India-China ties strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. A potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other SCO leaders, including Vladimir Putin, could foster dialogue. Ahead of these visits, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed trade concerns with China's Wang Yi. These engagements highlight India’s strategic push for regional collaboration and economic cooperation.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up for a series of high-stakes international engagements, beginning with a visit to Japan at the end of August for the annual summit. Following this, he is expected to travel to China in early September to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking a significant step in efforts to steady relations between India and China.

If the trip to China materializes, it will be Modi's first visit to the neighboring country since 2019. The bilateral relationship between the two nations has been strained, particularly after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley, Ladakh, in June 2020, which marked a low point in decades of diplomatic ties.

A potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is being considered during the SCO summit. The two leaders last met in Kazan during the BRICS summit, where they initiated measures aimed at restoring stability to their relationship. This upcoming interaction could further advance those efforts. Additionally, Modi is likely to hold discussions with other SCO leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. If this meeting occurs, it will be their first face-to-face dialogue since the BRICS summit in Kazan.

In preparation for the Prime Minister's visit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently traveled to Beijing for a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. During their discussions, Jaishankar raised pressing concerns about restrictive trade practices and obstacles to economic cooperation. These issues have gained prominence in light of China's limitations on the export of critical materials like rare earth magnets and fertilizers to India.

The back-to-back summits in Japan and China reflect India’s broader diplomatic strategy, emphasizing collaboration while addressing existing challenges. As Modi’s visits draw closer, the world will be watching to see how these engagements shape the region's geopolitical landscape and India's role within it.