A previously undisclosed letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March opened the door for Beijing and New Delhi to mend ties that had been strained by border clashes and trade frictions. In the message, Xi urged deeper coordination on international issues, the preservation of border tranquillity and caution over any U.S. trade deals that might undermine China’s interests, Indian officials said. The rapprochement is gathering pace as Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a three-nation Asian tour on Thursday. After talks in Tokyo with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba—where Japan is expected to outline up to 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) of investment in India, including roughly ¥1 trillion from Suzuki Motor—Modi will travel to China for his first visit in more than seven years. He is slated to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and hold separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi’s diplomatic push follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s move this month to double tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods to as high as 50%, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian crude. India’s Commerce Ministry said the duties will immediately hurt textile, chemical and machinery exports, while the Finance Ministry warned of broader ripple effects unless ongoing negotiations with Washington ease the pressure. By courting fresh Japanese capital and reopening channels with Beijing, Modi aims to cushion his ‘Make in India’ manufacturing agenda against U.S. protectionism. Analysts say the simultaneous warming in China-India relations and expanded Japanese engagement could recalibrate Asia’s balance of power, limiting Washington’s leverage only months after its 145% tariff on Chinese products came into force.