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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday underlined the need to maintain peace along the border as the foundation for advancing bilateral ties, while committing to a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” resolution of the boundary question.
The leaders met in the port city of Tianjin ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 – Modi’s first visit to China in seven years and their second meeting since the two sides agreed last October to end the prolonged standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The border face-off, which began in April-May 2020, had pushed relations to their lowest point since the 1962 war.
According to an official readout, both leaders welcomed the “positive momentum and steady progress” in ties since their previous meeting in Kazan last year, emphasising that India and China are “development partners, not rivals, and that differences should not turn into disputes.” Their talks lasted about an hour.
While Xi suggested that the boundary issue should not define the overall relationship, Modi reiterated that “peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential for continued development of bilateral ties.” The leaders expressed satisfaction with the troop disengagement achieved in 2024 and the maintenance of calm since then.
“Our Special Representatives have reached an agreement on border management. After disengagement, an atmosphere of peace and stability is in place. We are committed to advancing our relations on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity,” Modi said.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described peace on the boundary as an “insurance policy” for the relationship, noting that “the impact of the situation at the border will be reflected in overall ties. This was clearly conveyed by PM Modi to President Xi.”
Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, Xi stressed China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals, and that the two countries should see each other as “development opportunities rather than threats.” He called for stronger strategic communication, deeper mutual trust, and expanded cooperation to safeguard common interests.
“The dragon and the elephant should engage in a cooperative pas de deux. China and India should be good neighbours and partners helping each other succeed,” Xi said, adding that the two sides must not let the border issue overshadow the broader relationship.
“The two Asian neighbors should work together to ensure peace and tranquility in their border regions, and should not let the border issue define the overall China-India relations,” Xi said.
He called on the two countries to strengthen strategic communication to deepen mutual trust, expand exchanges and win-win cooperation, heed each other’s concerns to seek harmonious coexistence, and enhance multilateral collaboration to safeguard common interests.
Team BharatShakti
