In a significant gesture with direct resonance for Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping began their discussions by welcoming the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and renewed tourist visa facilitation. According to a government press release, both leaders stressed that stronger people-to-people exchanges, including direct flights and cultural contacts, will help anchor the future of India-China relations.
Bilateral Meeting at SCO Summit
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31st. It was their first engagement since October 2024 in Kazan. Both leaders agreed that India and China are partners in development, not rivals, and that their differences should not be allowed to become disputes.
Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas as the foundation for future cooperation. The two sides noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and reaffirmed their commitment to a fair and reasonable resolution of the boundary question, guided by the long-term interests of their peoples. The leaders expressed support for the work of their Special Representatives, who had held talks earlier this month, the PIB release added.
Economic and Strategic Cooperation
On economic issues, both leaders recognized the importance of their economies in stabilizing global trade. They agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment ties while working to address the trade deficit. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relationship should not be viewed through the prism of a third country.
Regional and Global Role
The leaders underlined their shared responsibility in addressing global challenges such as terrorism and ensuring fairness in multilateral trade. Modi also extended India’s support to China’s current SCO Presidency and invited Xi Jinping to the BRICS Summit India will host in 2026, an invitation Xi accepted while assuring support for India’s role.
Additional Engagements
Prime Minister Modi also met Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. He shared his vision for advancing bilateral ties, while Cai reiterated Beijing’s readiness to expand exchanges in line with the consensus between Modi and Xi.
