PM Modi to Visit Japan, China From 29 August to Sept 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a significant four-day visit to Japan and China from August 29 to September 1, 2025, to engage in high-level diplomatic dialogues. The visit includes attending the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo and participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. These meetings are crucial for bolstering regional cooperation, enhancing strategic partnerships, and reinforcing India’s presence in multilateral forums.

First Leg: India–Japan Annual Summit

Modi’s 8th Visit to Japan

Modi will visit Japan from August 29–30, where he will meet newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for the first time. This marks Modi’s eighth visit to Japan, showcasing the depth of bilateral relations and personal diplomacy between Indian and Japanese leaders over the years.

Strengthening the Special Strategic Partnership

The summit will focus on reviewing the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two nations, with discussions covering,

• Defence and security cooperation
• Trade and economic ties, including supply chains and investment
• Technology and innovation, particularly in AI, semiconductors, and clean energy
• People-to-people exchanges, including education and tourism

Regional and Global Alignment

Leaders are expected to exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific strategy, climate action, and global economic stability. The summit reflects the deepening alignment of the two democracies in promoting rules-based international order.

Second Leg: SCO Summit in China

Attending the Tianjin SCO Summit

From August 31 to September 1, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, hosted by President Xi Jinping. The SCO is a regional security and economic bloc covering Eurasia, with India as a full member since 2017.

Bilateral Engagements on the Sidelines

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of other participating countries. These interactions are aimed at discussing security, connectivity, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation across the region.

India’s SCO Role

India held the SCO presidency in 2022–23, highlighting its growing role in shaping regional cooperation agendas. Participation in this summit underscores India’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and regional integration.

Diplomatic Importance and Implications

Why This Visit Matters

• The visit to Japan revives the annual summit tradition and marks the first formal meeting with PM Ishiba, offering a chance to redefine bilateral priorities.
• Modi’s attendance at the SCO Summit signals India’s continued engagement with Eurasian powers, despite border challenges with China.
• It allows India to balance strategic ties between like-minded democracies (Japan) and regional power forums (SCO).

Broader Strategic Context

In the backdrop of shifting geopolitical dynamics—such as rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and evolving multipolarity—this visit enhances India’s stature as a confident, multi-aligned global actor.