Modi and Xi hold talks as India-China ties warm

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Tianjin on Sunday, marking a key diplomatic engagement as New Delhi and Beijing move to stabilize relations. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, hosted by China this weekend.

This is Modi’s first visit to China since 2018. The meeting follows months of efforts by both countries to restore ties strained by prolonged border tensions. The leaders previously met in October 2024 at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

”Our relationship got a positive direction. There is peace and stability on the borders,” Modi said. He also noted the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, an important pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar in the Tibetan autonomous region of China, as well as plans to resume direct flights between the two nations.

“The interests of 2.8 billion people of both countries are linked to our cooperation. This will also pave the way for the welfare of the entire humanity. We are committed to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” Modi stated.

The meeting comes as the two nations work to restore ties after a prolonged chill triggered by a deadly border clash in June 2020. It also takes place against the backdrop of Washington’s recent 50% tariffs on India, which were imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump in response to the country’s trade policies and continued oil trade with Russia.

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The meeting between the leaders of the world’s two most populous nations was preceded by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi. During the visit, the two countries held the 24th round of talks between the special representatives on the boundary question, co-chaired by Wang Yi and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Following the talks, both sides agreed on several steps to improve border management, resume direct flight connectivity “at the earliest,” and reopen border trade. They also agreed to support each other’s presidency of the BRICS grouping in 2026 and 2027.

Beijing earlier voiced strong support for New Delhi in response to US tariff threats. “The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and is threatening to impose more,” China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said.

”China firmly opposes it. In the face of such acts, silence or compromise only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India.”

Meanwhile, senior officials from Moscow, Beijing, and New Delhi have discussed reviving the Russia-India-China (RIC) dialogue, a trilateral cooperation format envisioned decades ago as a counterbalance to Western dominance, promoting a multipolar world order.