Modi to visit China after 7 years as Trump’s tariffs bite

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China for the first time in seven years to attend the summit of Beijing-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in a potential effort to minimise the impact of worsening US ties.

The decision came a few hours after US President Donald Trump imposed additional 25% tariff for India’s Russian oil purchases, pushing the total tariff burden to around 60% on average Indian products entering the world’s biggest economy.

Reuters and NDTV confirmed the visit, citing government insiders. India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

The two-day SCO summit will be held on 31 August-1 September in Tianjin, China.

According to NDTV, Modi’s talks with other SCO member states are expected to focus on regional security, counter-terrorism, and trade cooperation.

The summit could also serve as a platform to push for renewed stability and dialogue in India-China relations as the US economic hegemony looms large over the Asian rivals.

The Indian PM’s visit to China will mark his first since the 2020 Galwan clash. His last visit to the country took place in 2019, NDTV reported.

Modi and President Xi last met in October 2024 at the BRICS summit in Kazan, after which efforts to ease border tensions between India and China gathered pace.

Meanwhile, India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is in Russia on a scheduled visit and is expected to discuss India's purchases of Russian oil in the wake of Trump's pressure on India to stop buying Russian crude, Reuters reported, citing another Indian cabinet source.