Border trade reconnaissance between India and China embarks on potential revival
India's Prime Minister to Visit China for First Time in Seven Years
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China from August 31 to September 1, 2025, marking his first trip to the country since 2018. The visit will be significant as it comes amid ongoing US-China trade tensions, and follows signs of improving India-China relations after the 2020 border clash.
The purpose of the visit is twofold. Prime Minister Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, a key platform for India and China to engage on multiple fronts, supporting regional development and stability. He is also expected to hold bilateral talks, including with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Summit.
The visit holds strategic importance for both nations. It underlines their attempt to strengthen bilateral cooperation, manage border issues peacefully, and demonstrate a united front in the evolving Asian geopolitical landscape. The SCO Summit, chaired by China this year, offers an opportunity for India and China to showcase their partnership potential and contribute to a multipolar world order alongside other major players like Russia.
The timing of the visit is also crucial amid the US imposing tariffs affecting both China and India. Through this visit and the SCO Summit participation, India and China aim to counterbalance these economic pressures and reaffirm their commitment to regional stability and the Asian century vision.
The resumption of border trade between India and China, halted five years ago, is also a topic of discussion. The countries have reached a consensus on cross-border exchanges and cooperation, including the resumption of border trade. China's foreign ministry has stated that China-India border trade cooperation has played an important role in improving the lives of people living along the border.
In recent times, India has been a member of the Quad security alliance, which also includes the United States, Australia, and Japan. Successive US administrations have viewed India as a longstanding ally with like-minded interests regarding China. However, ties between India and the United States have been strained due to US President Donald Trump's ultimatum for India to stop purchasing Russian oil, a significant source of revenue for Moscow during its military offensive in Ukraine.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected for talks in New Delhi on Monday. The discussions and agreements to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas are seen as an effort to rebuild a relationship damaged after the deadly border clash in 2020 between their nations' troops.
It is important to note that no restart date for border trade has been given by either India or China. New Delhi's junior foreign minister, Kirti Vardhan Singh, has stated that India is engaging with China to facilitate the resumption of border trade.
In conclusion, the visit of Prime Minister Modi to China in late August will be a significant step in the ongoing efforts to mend ties between the two countries. The visit and the SCO Summit participation will offer an opportunity for India and China to demonstrate their commitment to regional stability, manage border issues peacefully, and reinforce their partnership potential in the evolving Asian geopolitical landscape.
The first sentence: Despite ongoing US-China trade tensions, India's Prime Minister's visit to China for the first time in seven years may indicate an attempt to find common ground in general-news matters, such as regional development and stability, as suggested by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
The second sentence: The visit's political importance is further highlighted by the potential for discussions on contentious issues like the resumption of border trade and the bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which could showcase India's interest in maintaining a balance of power in the Asian geopolitical landscape and promoting peace.
