Modi–Xi Tianjin Summit: India, China Choose Partnership Over Rivalry

Border peace, trade expansion, and people-to-people ties dominate talks at SCO meet

The Voice of Chandigarh:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a crucial bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, reaffirming that India and China are partners in development, not rivals.

Both leaders welcomed the positive momentum in ties since their last meeting in Kazan (Oct 2024) and stressed that peace along the border is essential for the growth of relations. They expressed satisfaction over last year’s disengagement and pledged to work toward a fair and mutually acceptable boundary settlement.

On the economic front, Modi and Xi agreed to strengthen trade and investment while working to reduce the trade deficit. They also discussed expanding cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including direct flights, visa facilitation, and the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

Highlighting strategic autonomy, the Prime Minister underlined that ties should not be viewed through the lens of any third country. Both leaders agreed to cooperate more closely on terrorism, fair trade, and multilateral issues.

PM Modi invited Xi Jinping to the 2026 BRICS Summit in India, which Xi accepted, assuring China’s support for India’s presidency.

Earlier, the Prime Minister also met Mr. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Politburo, and discussed his vision for deepening India–China relations. Cai reiterated Beijing’s commitment to advancing the consensus reached between the two leaders.