Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin marked a significant moment in the ongoing recalibration of India-China ties. This was Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, and it came at a time when both nations are reassessing their positions amid shifting global alignments.
During the talks, PM Modi reiterated that the India-China relationship must be built on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity. He underlined that cooperation between the two Asian giants is not only crucial for their respective growth but also for the welfare of nearly 2.8 billion people—a responsibility that carries global implications. “Our cooperation is linked to the interests of our people, and it will also pave the way for the welfare of all humanity,” Modi said, setting a tone of pragmatism blended with strategic vision.
On the contentious border issue, both leaders acknowledged the progress achieved through disengagement and highlighted the need to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control. Modi credited the agreement between the Special Representatives of both nations as a step forward in building confidence. He also stressed that India and China must continue working toward a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question—without allowing the issue to dominate the overall relationship.
Economically, the discussions carried a clear focus on trade and investment. Modi pointed out the stabilising role that India and China play in global markets and called for efforts to reduce the trade deficit, a long-standing concern in bilateral ties. He also highlighted that the relationship between the two nations should be viewed independently and not “through a third country lens,” a remark seen as a message to global powers attempting to frame India-China dynamics within their own strategic rivalries.
Modi raised the issue of terrorism, describing it as a global menace that requires collective action. His remarks were aimed at urging China to adopt a more cooperative stance on counter-terrorism, especially in multilateral forums where Beijing’s position often carries significant weight.
For his part, President Xi welcomed Modi and described India as a “vital friend,” emphasising that the two countries must handle their ties from a strategic and long-term perspective. He invoked the symbolism of the “Dragon and the Elephant” coming together, framing it as essential not just for Asia but for the Global South at large. Xi stressed that the two ancient civilisations have a duty to be good neighbours and reliable partners in navigating today’s uncertain international environment.
In addition to bilateral talks, Modi also met Cai Qi, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China, to discuss the implementation of the consensus reached with Xi. Modi further expressed India’s support for China’s SCO presidency, while Xi, in turn, pledged support for India’s presidency of the BRICS Summit in 2026.
The meeting in Tianjin, coming after the thaw initiated at the BRICS summit in Russia last year, signals a cautious but deliberate attempt by both sides to put the relationship back on a stable track. While major challenges like the boundary dispute and trade imbalance remain, the dialogue reflected a shared willingness to manage differences and explore cooperation, especially in the face of global economic turbulence and geopolitical realignments.
