The BRICS TimesPM Modi and Xi Jinping met during the SCO Summit on Sunday, underlining the significance of India-China ties in a rapidly changing world.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) Summit. Both leaders stressed the importance of maintaining strong India-China relations, which had been strained in recent years due to border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
PM Modi arrived in China on Saturday for the SCO Summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. During delegation-level talks, he highlighted that the welfare of billions of people is closely tied to India-China cooperation. Xi Jinping echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the “elephant and the dragon” moving forward together.
Key takeaways from the Modi-Xi meeting:
- Commitment to stronger ties: PM Modi reaffirmed India’s dedication to strengthening ties with China based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity. He noted that peace and stability along the border have improved following last year’s disengagement process.
- Connectivity and cultural exchanges: Modi highlighted the resumption of direct flights and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been paused for five years due to COVID-19 restrictions, emphasizing the shared welfare of 2.8 billion people.
- Importance of being good neighbours: Xi Jinping stressed that India and China must remain friendly and cooperative, especially in the context of global changes and challenges like tariffs imposed by the US.
- Elephant and dragon together: Xi described India and China as two ancient civilizations and the world’s most populous nations, underlining the need for collaboration to support peace, development, and stability in the Global South.
- Supporting multilateralism: Xi said both countries must take responsibility in promoting a multipolar world, strengthening multilateralism, and fostering democracy in international relations, contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and globally.
- Not threats to each other: Chinese state media reported Xi’s remark that India and China are not threats but rather opportunities for mutual development. He emphasized that both nations are at a crucial stage of growth and should focus on development.
- Border issues should not define relations: Xi also noted that the India-China relationship can be stable and long-lasting, urging that border disputes should not overshadow the overall bilateral ties.
