By travelling to both Tokyo and Tianjin within the span of a week, Modi is set to balance strategic partnerships with Japan and cautious engagement with China – two relationships that will weigh heavily on India’s foreign policy trajectory in Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a high-profile tour of Japan and China from August 29 to September 1, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced.
At the invitation of Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Modi will travel to Tokyo on August 29–30 for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be Modi’s eighth trip to Japan, but his first summit with Ishiba since he took office.
According to the MEA, the two leaders will review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. Talks will span defence, trade, technology, and people-to-people links, while regional and global flashpoints are also expected to feature prominently. The visit is aimed at reaffirming the deep bond of trust and cooperation between New Delhi and Tokyo.
On the second leg, Modi will head to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. On the sidelines, the Prime Minister is likely to hold bilateral discussions with several world leaders attending the multilateral event.
India joined the SCO in 2017 and held its presidency in 2022–23. Modi’s presence at Tianjin underscores India’s continued engagement with the grouping amid shifting regional dynamics.
The visit comes close on the heels of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s official trip to India on August 18–19. During his stay, Wang met Modi and conveyed Xi Jinping’s invitation for the SCO Summit. He also co-chaired the 24th Meeting of the Special Representatives with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Modi welcomed Xi’s invitation and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace on the border. He reiterated India’s commitment to a fair and reasonable settlement of the boundary dispute, while stressing that stable and constructive ties between New Delhi and Beijing would bolster regional and global peace.
By travelling to both Tokyo and Tianjin within the span of a week, Modi is set to balance strategic partnerships with Japan and cautious engagement with China – two relationships that will weigh heavily on India’s foreign policy trajectory in Asia.
