On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a significant trip to China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, set to take place from August 31 to September 1. This visit, marking his first to China in seven years and the first since the 2020 border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), follows a productive two-day engagement in Japan.
The SCO Summit, hosted by China, brings together member nations to foster regional cooperation. Before departing for his dual-nation tour, PM Modi expressed India’s commitment to the SCO, emphasizing its role as an active contributor. “I’m heading to Tianjin for the SCO Summit at the invitation of China’s leadership,” Modi said in a statement. “India has driven innovation, healthcare, and cultural initiatives during our SCO presidency, and we remain dedicated to tackling shared challenges and enhancing regional ties.”
He also highlighted his anticipation for sideline meetings with global leaders, including China’s President and Russia’s President, building on discussions held at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The visit comes on the heels of a recent agreement between India and China to resume patrolling along the 3,500-km LAC, marking a step toward resolving a four-year border standoff.
The SCO, established in 2001 in Shanghai, comprises member states including India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. It also includes observer states like Afghanistan and Mongolia, and dialogue partners such as Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, and others.
Prior to China, the Prime Minister’s Japan visit included high-level engagements at the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. He met with governors of Japan’s 16 prefectures, advocating for deeper collaboration between Japanese prefectures and Indian states to bolster partnerships and contribute to India’s growth narrative.
In Sendai, located in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, he joined Japan’s Prime Minister on the renowned Shinkansen bullet train. Together, they visited Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd, a prominent semiconductor company. “I toured the facility’s training center and innovation lab, exchanging ideas with its leadership,” the Prime Minister shared on social media. “Semiconductors are a key pillar of India-Japan collaboration. With India’s recent strides in this sector and growing youth participation, I’m optimistic about furthering this momentum.”
