Tianjin — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening relations with China during a meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
“We are committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities,” Modi told Xi, according to a video posted on his official X account on Sunday. This marks Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, underscoring New Delhi’s renewed focus on its eastern neighbor.
Context of meeting amid global pressure
The bilateral talks come just five days after Washington announced a 50% tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Analysts believe both Xi and Modi are seeking to show unity against Western economic pressure, highlighting the growing role of the Global South in international affairs.
Border thaw after years of standoff
Modi emphasized that an atmosphere of “peace and stability” has been restored along the disputed Himalayan border, where a deadly 2020 clash had frozen most avenues of cooperation. He said both sides had reached a fresh understanding on border management, though no details were shared.
This follows a breakthrough meeting in Russia last year, where both nations agreed to coordinated border patrols—seen as the first step in easing military tensions.
Renewed cooperation and connectivity
The Indian leader also revealed that direct flights between India and China, suspended since 2020, will soon resume, though no timeline was provided.
Beijing has recently lifted export curbs on rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring machines, a decision announced after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India earlier this month.
China has also eased travel restrictions, allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Buddhist sites in Tibet, while both countries removed reciprocal tourist visa bans.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong earlier declared that Beijing will “firmly stand with India” against Washington’s steep tariffs.
Strategic recalibration
For decades, the United States cultivated close ties with India in hopes it would counterbalance China’s influence in Asia. But with the latest trade restrictions from Washington, New Delhi appears to be recalibrating its strategic options.
“Both India and China are engaged in what is likely to be a lengthy and fraught process of defining a new equilibrium in the relationship,” noted Manoj Kewalramani, a Sino-Indian relations expert at Bengaluru’s Takshashila Institution.