Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on Monday, where India is expected to strongly focus on cross-border terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed by summit host Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife at the welcome reception at the Chinese port city of Tianjin
New Delhi: In a strategic reset of ties between the two Asian giants amid increased American economic threats and tariffs globally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping, shook hands and held a nearly hour-long bilateral meeting on Sunday morning (IST) in the Chinese port city of Tianjin. Modi and Xi “deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms”.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that both nations “pursue strategic autonomy and India-China relations should not be seen through a third-country lens”, a veiled reference to the United States.
Modi’s sentiments were fully reciprocated by Xi, who said at the meeting that “it is the right choice for both countries to be friends… and to have the dragon and the elephant come together”. The Chinese President added that “the international situation is both fluid and chaotic” and urged both nations to “step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism and a multipolar world” as the “world's two most populous countries and important members of the Global South”.
The Chinese President added that “as long as they adhere to the overall direction of being partners rather than rivals… China-India relations can maintain stability and move forward over the long run.”
At the meeting, Modi pointed out that "special representatives" (SRs) of both nations (national security adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi) had (in New Delhi just recently) "reached an agreement on border management". Noting that “after the disengagement at the border (in October last year), an atmosphere of peace and stability is now in place,” he added that “we are committed to advancing our relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity”.
At a special ministry of external affairs briefing in Tianjin later in the evening, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the Prime Minister and the Chinese President had decided to “accelerate the implementation of the understanding” reached by the two SRs in New Delhi less than two weeks ago.
Asked about the Chinese President’s reported view that the situation at the borders should not define ties, the foreign secretary said the PM “underlined the importance of peace and tranquility in the border areas for continued development of bilateral relations”.
Misri termed the maintenance of peace and tranquility at the borders as an “insurance policy” for bilateral ties, thereby hinting at the difference in approach of the two nations on this issue. He also revealed that Xi had mooted a few proposals, such as “strengthening strategic communication for deeper trust, accommodating each other’s concerns and strengthening multilateral cooperation to safeguard common interests” during the meeting. He said both leaders had decided that “common interests outweigh differences” and that it is “critical that the two nations cooperate with each other if there is to be an Asian century.”
The foreign secretary also indicated that the issue of American tariffs had come up during discussions on the global situation but said the focus of the meeting was on bilateral ties.
Stating that “direct flights are also being resumed between the two countries” and that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed,” the Prime Minister, in his opening remarks, said, “Our cooperation is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people of our two countries. This will also pave the way for the welfare of all humanity.” He recalled that last year in October in the Russian city of Kazan, the two leaders had held “very productive discussions, which gave a positive direction to our relations”.
The Prime Minister added: “I express my heartfelt gratitude to you for the warm welcome extended to us… I congratulate China on its successful presidency of the SCO.”
The Chinese President may visit India next year for the BRICS summit that New Delhi will host. Modi invited Xi to the summit in 2026. The Chinese President thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation and offered China's support to India's BRICS presidency,” New Delhi said in a statement on the meeting.
In his welcoming remarks, the Chinese President said, “It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Mr Prime Minister… We both shoulder the historical responsibility of improving the well-being of our two peoples, promoting the solidarity and rejuvenation of developing countries, and promoting the progress of human society. It is the right choice for both countries to be friends who have good neighbourly and amicable ties, partners who enable each other's success, and to have the dragon and the elephant come together.”
Pointing out that the “world today is swept by once-in-a-century transformations”, Xi added, “Both nations need to handle our 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.”
After the bilateral meeting, Modi posted on X, “Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and reaffirmed our commitment to cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.”
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Doval, Misri and senior officials at the meeting, while the Chinese delegation included Wang and other senior functionaries. The meeting took place a day ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held on Monday.
In the evening, Modi attended a welcome reception for attending leaders, where he was once again warmly welcomed by the summit host, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. Footage showed the Prime Minister walking up to the Chinese President and the Chinese First Lady and warmly shaking hands, just hours after he had held a bilateral meeting.
At the reception, Modi met several leaders of the member nations as well as guest countries, including some neighbouring ones. The reception was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who stood right next to Xi in a group photo.
Also seen attending the reception was Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The group photo showed both Modi and Sharif standing in the front row with several leaders, including President Xi and President Putin, standing between them.
In a detailed statement on the meeting, New Delhi said, “The two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question… ”
The statement added: “On economic and trade relations, they recognised the role of their two economies to stabilise world trade and underlined the need to… expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce trade deficit."
