India-China Relations Thaw: PM Modi Meets President Xi Jinping at SCO Summit Sidelines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised that the interests of the people of India and China are closely tied to mutual cooperation. PM Modi made these remarks during his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. This is PM Modi’s first visit to China in seven years.

Both leaders welcomed the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024. They reaffirmed that the two countries were development partners and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes.

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The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then.

“They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognised the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their Talks earlier this month, and agreed to further support their efforts,” a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after the talks said.

In his opening remarks posted on social media, PM Modi said both countries had been moving in a positive direction since last year.

“We are committed to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” he said, asserting: “After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created.”

PM Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit has marked a significant step in rebuilding ties between India and China. The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, underscored the commitment of both nations to strengthen their relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.

During the meeting, PM Modi further emphasised that the interests of 2.8 billion people of both countries are closely tied to mutual cooperation. “An agreement has been reached between our Special Representatives regarding border management. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been resumed. Direct flights between the two countries are also being resumed,” PM Modi said. This development comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to India, which produced agreements on restoring border trade, reopening direct flights, and ensuring peace along the frontier.

The agreement on border management is a crucial step in maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control. PM Modi highlighted that after disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created. The resumption of direct flights and border trade will likely boost economic cooperation between the two nations. However, India has consistently raised concerns over China’s trade practices, including dumping cheap products into Indian markets and a significant trade imbalance.

In his remarks, Xi Jinping said that both nations need to handle their relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective. “We must also step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world,” he said underscoring that the world’s two most populous countries “need to be friends” and the two countries could be good neighbours and play a key part in the Global South.

“China and India are two of the most ‘civilisational’ countries. We are the world’s two most populous countries and part of the Global South … It is vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and [for] the ‘dragon’ and the ‘elephant’ to come together,” Xi said in opening remarks.

The meeting also touched upon global economic issues, with PM Modi emphasising the need for India and China to work together to bring stability to the world economic order. This cooperation is particularly important given the current volatility in the global economy and the ongoing trade tensions between India and the US, marked by Washington’s tariff policies.

The SCO summit provides a platform for dialogue among rival countries, helping to ease tensions. The meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping is significant, given the recent border clashes and strained relations since 2020. With the resumption of direct flights and other agreements, both nations aim to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation on trade and regional stability.

The meeting between PM Modi and President Xi has set a positive direction for India-China relations. Both nations have agreed to work towards a stable, cooperative, and forward-looking relationship. The agreements reached during the meeting will likely pave the way for increased economic cooperation and improved border management, benefiting the people of both countries.