Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for bilateral talks on Sunday, with both leaders agreeing that India and China should be considered “partners, not rivals.” The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the two leaders also concurred that a stable and cooperative relationship between the two nations is vital for the benefit of their combined 2.8 billion people.
Key Issues Discussed
During the bilateral meeting, PM Modi brought up the following key issues:
- Cross-Border Terrorism: The Prime Minister highlighted that cross-border terrorism is a concern for both India and China, emphasizing the need for mutual understanding and cooperation in combating the issue. Misri stated that India has received support from China on this matter in the context of the SCO Summit.
- India-China Boundary: The leaders also discussed the border issue. PM Modi underlined the necessity of maintaining peace and tranquility along the border for the smooth development of bilateral relations. Both leaders acknowledged the successful military disengagement that occurred last year and the subsequent maintenance of peace in the border regions. They agreed on the importance of using existing mechanisms to prevent future disturbances.
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to China in seven years. The meeting is only the second time the two leaders have met since the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020, which had strained bilateral ties to their lowest point since the 1962 border war.
Shared Goals and Future Cooperation
Misri noted that both leaders shared a consensus on the fact that differences should not be allowed to escalate into disputes. They agreed that their common interests outweigh their differences and that cooperation is critical for a “multipolar world order with a multipolar Asia at its heart.” This meeting is seen as a significant step toward normalizing relations and setting a positive direction for future engagement between the two Asian powers.