The wide-ranging discussions, held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, saw both leaders agreeing that India and China are development partners, not rivals. They emphasized that differences between the two nations should not escalate into disputes.
Recognizing the critical role their economies play in stabilizing world trade, Modi and Xi aligned on the need for cooperation, especially in light of the economic challenges arising from Washington’s tariff disputes. PM Modi noted that both India and China pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be viewed through the lens of a third country, as per an Indian readout of the meeting.
The two leaders discussed the necessity of expanding common ground on various bilateral, regional, and global issues, including terrorism and fair trade in multilateral forums. Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in their bilateral relations, which have seen steady progress since their last meeting in Kazan in October of the previous year.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) readout stated that the leaders reaffirmed their belief that the two countries were development partners, not rivals, and emphasized that their differences should not result in disputes. PM Modi highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas for the continued growth of bilateral ties.
Notably, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the successful disengagement of troops in the previous year and the sustained peace along the border areas. They committed to furthering a fair and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue, considering the political framework of their broader bilateral relations and the long-term interests of their peoples.
In addition, Modi and Xi acknowledged the significant progress made by the two Special Representatives during their recent talks earlier this month and agreed to provide continued support to their efforts.
The MEA also noted that PM Modi expressed support for China’s Presidency of the SCO and the summit held in Tianjin. In return, President Xi thanked PM Modi for the invitation to the BRICS summit, which India will host in 2026, and extended China’s support for India’s upcoming BRICS presidency.
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