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Jinping tells PM Modi during SCO Summit meeting -
The Sunday mail
Tinjian, September 1
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a significant diplomatic gesture, described friendship between India and China as the “right choice” during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China.
Welcoming PM Modi, President Xi called both nations “ancient Eastern civilisations” and stressed their shared global responsibilities. Recalling their last face-to-face discussion at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, Xi underlined the importance of India-China relations in shaping the future of the Global South.
“It is a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Prime Minister. I warmly welcome you to China for the SCO Summit. As the two most populous countries and key players in the Global South, we carry the historical duty of improving the lives of our people, fostering unity among developing nations, and promoting global progress,” said Xi.
Calling 2025 a landmark year — the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China — Xi stressed the need to approach the relationship with a long-term, strategic vision. He also urged both sides to support multilateralism and a more balanced international order.
“It is the right choice for China and India to be friends and good neighbours, to help each other succeed, and for the dragon and elephant to walk together,” Xi added.
Responding to Xi, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties grounded in “mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.”
“This is my first visit to China in seven years, and it comes after a period of hard-earned stability following the border disengagement. Our fruitful discussions in Kazan last year provided a positive momentum, which I hope we can build upon,” Modi said.
He also highlighted initiatives such as resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and restarting direct air connectivity as steps toward rebuilding people-to-people ties.
“The future of 2.8 billion people is intertwined with our cooperation. A stronger India-China partnership will benefit not just our countries, but humanity as a whole,” Modi noted.
The 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State brings together leaders from more than 20 nations, alongside 10 heads of international organizations. President Xi will also lead the “SCO Plus” session and deliver multiple keynote addresses.
Besides India and China, the SCO includes Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. An additional 16 countries participate as observers or dialogue partners.
The Modi-Xi meeting also comes amid rising global tensions, including ongoing trade tariffs imposed by the United States and a complex geopolitical climate affecting China’s ties with the West. Their 50-minute discussion marks a significant thaw, particularly following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash that had severely strained India-China relations.
