India-China Relations Show Pragmatic Progress During Modi-Xi Meeting In Tianjin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, marking a significant moment in the India-China relationship.

Their discussions reflected a pragmatic approach focused on dialogue, confidence-building measures, and strengthened regional engagement.

The two leaders agreed that future ties must rest on ‘mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity’, underscoring the importance of stabilising the contentious border areas between the two nations.

PM Modi emphasised the need for peace and tranquillity along the disputed border for the continued growth of bilateral relations.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made following the successful disengagement last year and ongoing maintenance of calm along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the meeting reinforced commitment to a ‘fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable’ resolution of the boundary question, prioritising the political perspective and long-term interests of both countries.

Resumption of Direct Flights and People-to-People Ties

In a significant development, the leaders announced that direct flights between India and China would soon resume, enhancing connectivity and fostering stronger people-to-people ties.

PM Modi highlighted ongoing efforts to facilitate visa processes, building on the recent resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa arrangements.

During the meeting, PM Modi extended a formal invitation to President Xi Jinping to attend the BRICS Summit India will host in 2026, signalling continued cooperation on global economic issues.

PM Modi stressed the importance of joint efforts to stabilise the global economic order, demonstrating the shared interests between the two countries beyond bilateral concerns.

This was PM Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 and the first since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

The breakthrough talks follow an agreement on patrolling along the nearly 3,500-kilometre LAC, ending a four-year border confrontation.

In his post on X, PM Modi described the meeting as ‘fruitful’, praising the ‘positive momentum’ in relations since their last interaction in Kazan, Russia, in 2024.

He reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and reaffirmed commitments to cooperation founded on mutual respect and sensitivity.

The India Narrative noted that this meeting marks a pragmatic shift, with both New Delhi and Beijing prioritising dialogue and confidence-building over confrontation.

Although deep-seated differences persist, the resumption of direct flights and mutual efforts in the SCO framework point to a cautious but steady improvement in bilateral ties.

Also Read: Modi-Putin Car Ride Trends On Chinese Social Media; Overshadows SCO Summit