Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have pledged to deepen cooperation and move past years of border tensions during a rare face-to-face meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.
This is Modi’s first trip to China in seven years, where he joined Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders from Asia and the Middle East in a gathering seen as highlighting Global South solidarity.
“We remain committed to advancing our relationship on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivities,” Modi said during the talks, which were shared on his official X account.
The discussions come less than a week after Washington imposed steep 50% tariffs on Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian crude. Analysts suggest Modi and Xi are aligning more closely as they face common pressure from the West.
Border & Economic Breakthroughs
Modi noted that conditions along the disputed Himalayan frontier — the scene of deadly clashes in 2020 — had improved, paving the way for broader engagement. He announced a new agreement on border management, without revealing specifics, and confirmed that direct flights between the two countries, suspended since 2020, will restart soon.
China has recently eased restrictions on exports of rare earths, fertilizers, and heavy machinery to India. Xi said the two countries should view each other as “partners rather than rivals” to ensure a “stable and far-reaching” relationship.
Strategic Balancing
India and China have been cautiously normalizing ties since a breakthrough agreement on border patrols last year. The reopening of pilgrimage routes to Tibetan Buddhist sites and the lifting of visa curbs reflect this gradual thaw.
Still, key challenges remain: India’s trade deficit with China has climbed to a record $99.2 billion, and New Delhi worries that a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet could sharply reduce water flows in the Brahmaputra during the dry season. India’s hosting of the Dalai Lama and China’s close ties with Pakistan also remain sources of friction.
Pakistan and Regional Diplomacy
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also attending the summit, leading a delegation to discuss regional security and economic cooperation. He is expected to meet Xi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss Pakistan–China relations.
The SCO — which includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian states — is being used by Beijing and Moscow to expand influence in Eurasia, with leaders from Mongolia, Egypt, Turkey, and others joining as guests.
