Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Saturday, marking the first high-level interaction between the two leaders since their meeting in Kazan in October 2024.
In their bilateral discussions, both leaders welcomed the "positive momentum and steady progress" in India-China relations over the past year. They reaffirmed that the two nations are development partners, not rivals, and emphasized that differences should not escalate into disputes.
"A stable relationship and cooperation between India and China, and their 2.8 billion people, based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity, are essential not only for our nations but also for a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world in the 21st century," a joint statement noted.
Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the border as a prerequisite for further development in bilateral ties. Both sides expressed satisfaction over last year’s successful disengagement in border areas and the maintenance of peace since then. They reiterated their commitment to a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” resolution of the boundary question, acknowledging progress made during the recent talks between their Special Representatives.
The leaders also agreed to boost people-to-people exchanges, including the resumption of direct flights and tourist visas, as well as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. On economic cooperation, they acknowledged the stabilizing role of India and China in global trade and agreed to work toward expanding trade and investment ties, while addressing the existing trade imbalance.
Highlighting the shared pursuit of strategic autonomy, Prime Minister Modi stated that India-China relations should not be influenced by third-party perspectives. Both leaders stressed the importance of strengthening common ground on regional and global issues, including counter-terrorism and promoting fair trade within multilateral platforms.
Prime Minister Modi also congratulated China on its successful presidency of the SCO and extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the BRICS Summit that India will host in 2026. President Xi thanked him for the invitation and pledged China’s support for India’s upcoming BRICS presidency.
On the sidelines of the SCO summit, PM Modi also held a separate meeting with Mr. Cai Qi, a senior member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China. The two discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties in line with the vision laid out by the two leaders. Mr. Cai reiterated China’s commitment to deepening engagement with India.
“Our cooperation is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people,” Prime Minister Modi said. “We are committed to advancing our relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.”
The high-level interactions come amid signs of cautious normalization in ties after prolonged tensions along the Line of Actual Control. The leaders’ meeting is being seen as a step forward in maintaining diplomatic momentum and managing outstanding issues.
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