Amid the ongoing tariff tensions between India and the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-nation visit to Japan and China from August 29 to September 1, which includes participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
The SCO summit will be held in Tianjin in China from August 31 to September 1.
The visit of the prime minister comes amid escalating trade tensions with the United States over India’s oil purchases from Russia. US President Donald Trump recently increased tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, in what is seen as a sign of his frustration over failing to stop the Russia-Ukraine war.
“At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan from 29-30 August 2025 to participate in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be Prime Minister Modi’s eighth visit to Japan, and the first Summit with Prime Minister Ishiba,” the MEA said in a statement.
During the visit, the two prime ministers will review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, including defense and security, trade and economy, technology and innovation, and people to people exchanges, as well as discuss issues of regional and global importance.
“The visit will reaffirm the longstanding special bond of friendship between the two countries,” the statement further said.
In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of China, Xi Jinping, PM Modi will travel to the neighbouring country on a visit from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. On the sidelines of the Summit, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders attending the Summit.
“India has been a member of SCO since 2017. It held the presidency of the Council of Heads of State of SCO during 2022-23,” the MEA added.
In continuation of the ongoing engagement, earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met PM Modi and handed over a message and an invitation from President Xi Jinping for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to India from August 18 to 19.
PM Modi received Wang Yi, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party and Foreign Minister of China.
“Mr. Wang Yi handed over a message and an invitation from President Xi to the Prime Minister for the SCO Summit being held in Tianjin. He also shared his positive assessment of the bilateral meeting with EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and the 24th Meeting of the Special Representatives, which he co-chaired with NSA Ajit Doval during his visit,” Prime Minister Office said in a release.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border, and reiterated India’s commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question. He thanked President Xi for the invitation to the SCO Summit and conveyed his acceptance.
He expressed support for China’s Presidency of the SCO Summit and said that he looked forward to meeting President Xi in Tianjin. The PM underlined that stable, predictable, and constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional and global peace and prosperity, an official statement issued by PMO read.