Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing India-China relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
Welcoming the positive momentum since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024, PM Modi and Xi underlined that India and China were “development partners, not rivals” and that their differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes. Stressing the importance of peace and tranquility along the border for continued progress, both leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of calm since then.
The two leaders reiterated their support for a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue, guided by the overall political perspective of bilateral ties. They acknowledged progress made by the Special Representatives in their recent talks and pledged to further back their efforts.
On people-to-people exchanges, the two sides agreed to strengthen connectivity through more direct flights, easier visa facilitation, and cultural initiatives, building on the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Both leaders also emphasized expanding bilateral trade and investment, while addressing concerns over trade imbalance, and recognized the role of their economies in stabilizing global trade.
The PM stressed that both India and China pursue strategic autonomy and that their ties should not be viewed through the prism of a third country. The discussions also touched upon cooperation on regional and global challenges such as terrorism and ensuring fairness in multilateral trade platforms.
Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency and the Summit in Tianjin, while inviting Xi to attend the BRICS Summit India will host in 2026. Xi thanked PM Modi for the invitation and pledged support for India’s BRICS Presidency.
Additionally, the PM also met Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China.
During the meeting, PM Modi shared his vision for deepening bilateral ties and sought support to implement the leaders’ consensus. Cai reaffirmed China’s commitment to enhancing exchanges and cooperation.