Tianjin (China) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Sunday, marking his first visit to China in seven years and the first since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.
In a statement issued after the meeting, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Modi stressed that both India and China seek strategic autonomy and that bilateral ties must not be viewed through the lens of any third country. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace along the border as a prerequisite for improving relations between the two neighbors.
President Xi, in his remarks, underlined the significance of friendship between Asia’s two largest nations. “China and India are the world’s most populous countries and part of the Global South. Remaining friends, good neighbors, and ensuring that the dragon and the elephant move forward together is essential,” Xi said.
The foreign ministry recalled that Modi and Xi had last met in October 2024 in Kazan, noting that bilateral ties have made “positive progress” since then. Both leaders agreed that India and China are partners in development, not rivals, and that while differences may exist, they should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.
The talks also touched on ways to strengthen people-to-people ties, including facilitating the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, easing visa rules, and restarting direct flights, which have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuters quoted Modi as saying flights between the two countries would resume soon, though no date was announced.
Trade was another major focus. The two sides agreed on the need to stabilize international trade, boost bilateral investment, and work toward reducing India’s ballooning trade deficit with China. Latest figures show India exported goods worth $14.25 billion to China in 2024–25, while imports surged to $113.46 billion, leaving a deficit of nearly $99.21 billion.
Prime Minister Modi also extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the BRICS Summit in 2026, which India will host. Both leaders reiterated that sustained cooperation must rest on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
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