India-China ties show signs of thaw as Beijing’s foreign minister to visit New Delhi ahead of Modi trip
India and China appear to be moving towards a cautious rapprochement, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expected to arrive in New Delhi next week for talks with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, diplomatic sources told Press . The visit comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip to Beijing later this month – his first since the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020 plunged bilateral relations into their lowest point in decades. According to officials, Wang’s visit will focus on building on recent high-level engagements between the two Asian giants. In July, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice President Han Zheng. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held talks in Beijing with his counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun. During his meetings, Jaishankar stressed the need for “mutual cooperation and open dialogue” between the two neighbours in an “increasingly turbulent world” – a reference to conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel confrontation, both of which have heightened global instability. Relations between India and China were further strained by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which halted direct flights, Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimages, and visa issuance. The Galwan clashes later that year left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead, prompting a series of tense military-level negotiations. Signs of improvement have emerged in recent months. China has given the green light for the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, while India announced last month that Chinese citizens will once again be eligible for tourist visas. Direct flights between the two countries are also set to resume next month for the first time in over four years. Analysts say Beijing’s outreach reflects a strategic recalibration. “China is looking to stabilise relations with India amid a complex geopolitical environment and economic headwinds,” said one foreign policy expert in New Delhi. The move also comes as Beijing publicly backed New Delhi in opposing recent US tariff hikes imposed by President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. Observers say the visit could be pivotal in resetting ties, but both sides remain wary, given the unresolved border disputes. For now, Wang Yi’s trip to New Delhi will serve as a litmus test for whether the world’s two most populous countries can move from a tentative thaw towards genuine reconciliation.
Modi May Meet Trump During UN General Assembly Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet US President Donald Trump next month during a potential visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Indian Express reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed the visit, and a spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. An Indian official familiar with the planning said no final decision had been made, noting that the provisional list of speakers at the UNGA’s General Debate — which includes Modi on September 26 — is subject to revisions. “The list will go through changes,” the official said. “It has not been decided yet if the Prime Minister will attend.” The 78th session of the UN General Assembly will open on September 9 in New York, with the high-level debate involving heads of state and government scheduled from September 23 to 29. While the official purpose of Modi’s potential visit would be to address the UN gathering, the Indian Express report suggests a key aim would be to hold bilateral talks with Trump. The discussions would likely focus on trade and tariff disputes that have strained relations between New Delhi and Washington over the past year. Tensions rose after the United States withdrew India’s preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences in 2019, citing lack of reciprocal market access. India responded with retaliatory tariffs on certain US goods. While both sides have sought to keep strategic and defence cooperation unaffected, trade remains a sticking point. If the meeting materialises, it would come amid a busy diplomatic season for both leaders. Trump is heading into a re-election campaign, while Modi is keen to project India’s role as a rising global player and maintain strong US ties in the face of China’s growing influence. Modi and Trump last met in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, where they pledged to resolve trade issues “soon.” Whether next month’s UNGA sidelines will offer that breakthrough remains uncertain.
Trump, Zelensky and EU leaders hold talks ahead of Putin summit
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted an online meeting on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine, ahead of Trump’s planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week. Zelensky joined Merz in Berlin for the virtual talks, which the White House described as a “listening exercise,” appearing to play down expectations for any immediate breakthrough in efforts to end the 30-month-old conflict. Trump is scheduled to meet Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. Speaking ahead of the summit, Zelensky said Ukraine would not cede territory in the east to Russia, warning that abandoning the Donbas region would embolden Moscow to “start a third war” in the country. Ukrainian officials have said Russia is massing troops for a new offensive, expected to begin by September. In a statement posted on Telegram, Zelensky called on Ukraine’s allies to “put pressure on Russia for an honest peace,” adding that there is “currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war.” “We must learn from the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception by Russia,” he said. “By working together, Ukraine, the U.S., Europe and other allied nations can definitely force Russia to make peace.” Western leaders have reiterated their support for Kyiv, but diplomatic efforts have so far failed to produce a viable framework for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
India’s PM Modi Meets President Murmu Amid Parliament Logjam and US Trade Tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday amid an ongoing deadlock in Parliament and rising diplomatic friction with the United States over trade and defence ties with Russia. The Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed the meeting in a brief statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.” However, no further details of the meeting were made public. The meeting came as Parliament remained largely stalled since the start of the Monsoon session on July 21, with opposition parties demanding an in-depth discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition has alleged irregularities in the SIR process, calling it a politically motivated move ahead of the state assembly elections due next year. Except for brief discussions in both Houses on “Operation Sindoor,” a military-led rescue and repatriation mission, legislative business has been minimal as both Houses witnessed frequent disruptions and adjournments. Modi’s visit to the President also follows growing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Washington. Just days earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports and signaled possible further penalties in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military hardware—moves that have drawn criticism from the U.S. and other Western nations amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. While the Indian government has not officially responded to Trump’s announcement, New Delhi has consistently defended its strategic autonomy and maintained that its energy and defence imports serve its national interests. Analysts view the Prime Minister’s meeting with the President as a customary but significant consultation during a politically sensitive period marked by legislative paralysis and foreign policy headwinds. With key bills pending and crucial state elections approaching, pressure is mounting on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to restore order in Parliament and address both domestic and international concerns.
