Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Visit India on August 18 Ahead of PM Modi’s SCO Summit Trip
Beijing/New Delhi, Aug 13 (TheTrendingPeople) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to India on August 18 for high-level talks under the Special Representative mechanism, in what is being seen as a significant diplomatic engagement ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
The visit comes at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are cautiously attempting to reset ties strained since the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which left soldiers on both sides dead and triggered a prolonged border standoff along the 3,500-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).
China Welcomes PM Modi’s SCO Participation
China has openly welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at the SCO Summit scheduled for August 31–September 1.
At a recent press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said:
“China welcomes Prime Minister Modi to China for the SCO Tianjin Summit. We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results.”
According to Guo, the Tianjin Summit will host leaders from over 20 countries, including all SCO member states and heads of 10 international organisations, making it the largest SCO gathering since the organisation’s inception.
First Modi Visit to China Since Galwan Clash
PM Modi’s participation in the SCO Summit will mark his first visit to China since 2020. Diplomatic sources say it was made possible after India and China reached an understanding on patrolling protocols along the LAC, effectively ending the four-year border confrontation.
The breakthrough comes after a series of high-level engagements in recent months:
- July 2025: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited China for the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin and met Wang Yi and President Xi Jinping.
- June 2025: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in China but refused to endorse the joint declaration due to the omission of terrorism concerns.
- June 2025: NSA Ajit Doval participated in the 20th SCO Security Council Secretaries meeting in China, urging a united stand against terrorism without double standards.
Border Talks Remain Crucial
The Special Representative mechanism, under which Wang Yi’s August 18 talks will be held, is a bilateral platform focused on resolving border issues and enhancing overall strategic communication.
Diplomatic analysts note that while the LAC agreement on patrolling has reduced tensions, both sides remain cautious. The upcoming discussions may also cover:
- Economic cooperation and trade revival post-COVID
- Regional security concerns within the SCO framework
- Counter-terrorism cooperation, where India has often pushed for stronger language against UN-proscribed groups like LeT and JeM
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Wang Yi’s visit to India, coming just days before PM Modi’s first trip to China in four years, signals a potential thaw in relations after a period of deep freeze. Yet, the success of these engagements will depend on whether both nations can balance their strategic rivalry with the need for cooperation on border stability, trade, and regional security.
With the SCO Tianjin Summit promising to be the largest in the group’s history, the stage is set for India and China to test the limits — and possibilities — of a new diplomatic chapter.