Watch | PM Modi lands in China ahead of SCO meeting, to hold bilateral talks with Xi and Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in China on Saturday on a keenly watched visit that assumed greater significance in view of sudden downturn in India-US ties triggered by Washington’s policies on tariff.

Modi is in China primarily to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on August 31 and September 1.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, arrived in Sendai via bullet train from Tokyo.

PM Modi described his visit to Japan as memorable and highly productive in a post on X, emphasising that the trip’s outcomes will benefit both Indian and Japanese citizens.

PM Modi’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday has assumed greater significance in the face of Washington’s tariff tussle that has impacted almost all leading economies across the world.

In the talks, Modi and Xi are expected to take stock of India-China economic ties and deliberate on steps to further normalise relations that came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border row.

The prime minister arrived in this Chinese city from Japan in the second and final leg of his two-nation.

Modi is also expected to hold bilateral talks Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other leaders on the margins of the summit.

Ahead of his trip to Tianjin, Modi said it is important for India and China to work together to bring stability to the world economic order.

The SCO comprises 10 members. In addition to India, they include Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are also several dialogue partners and observers.

India has been a member of the SCO since 2017, having been an observer since 2005. During its membership period, India has held the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020 and of the SCO Council of Heads of State from 2022 to 2023.