New Delhi [India], August 31 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sunday. According to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both leaders welcomed the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024.
They reaffirmed that India and China are development partners, not rivals, and emphasized that differences should not turn into disputes. Both leaders underscored that a stable relationship and cooperation between India and China — representing 2.8 billion people — on the basis of mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity is vital not only for their own development but also for shaping a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world in the 21st century.
Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of peace and tranquility in the border areas for the continued advancement of bilateral ties. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with last year’s disengagement and the maintenance of peace along the border since then. They reiterated their commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue, guided by the broader political perspective of their bilateral relations and the long-term interests of their peoples. Both acknowledged the progress made by their Special Representatives in talks earlier this month and pledged further support to their efforts.
The leaders also highlighted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visas. On economic and trade relations, they recognized the role of their two economies in stabilizing global trade and stressed the importance of expanding bilateral trade and investment ties while working to reduce the trade deficit.
Prime Minister Modi noted that both India and China pursue strategic autonomy and emphasized that their relations should not be viewed through the prism of a third country. The two leaders agreed on the necessity of expanding common ground on bilateral, regional, and global challenges, including terrorism and fair trade within multilateral platforms.
Prime Minister Modi expressed support for China’s SCO Presidency and the Summit in Tianjin. He also invited President Xi to attend the BRICS Summit that India will host in 2026. President Xi thanked him for the invitation and assured China’s support for India’s upcoming BRICS Presidency.
Separately, Prime Minister Modi also met Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. He shared his vision for strengthening bilateral relations and sought Cai’s support in realizing the leaders’ vision. Cai reiterated China’s commitment to expanding exchanges and further improving ties in line with the consensus reached between the two leaders. (ANI)
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