Modi, Xi Pledge to View India and China as Partners, Not Rivals
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on Sunday that India and China should act as development partners rather than rivals, as they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen trade ties, reduce India’s $99.2 billion trade deficit with China, and maintain peace along their disputed Himalayan border, which has seen tensions since the deadly 2020 clash. Modi said both nations must build relations on mutual trust and sensitivities, stressing that cooperation was vital for the 2.8 billion people of the two most populous countries.
Xi echoed the sentiment, saying China and India are “opportunities, not threats” to each other and urged that the border issue should not define the relationship. Both sides acknowledged progress since last year’s border patrolling agreement and noted that the situation was moving towards normalisation. They also discussed regional and global challenges, including terrorism, fair trade, and economic pressures created by U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
As part of efforts to stabilise ties, Modi announced the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, suspended since 2020, while Beijing agreed to lift export curbs on rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines. Both sides also eased visa restrictions and allowed Indian pilgrims to visit holy sites in Tibet. Despite these steps, long-term irritants remain, including China’s planned mega-dam in Tibet, its support for Pakistan, and India’s hosting of the Dalai Lama. Analysts view the meeting as a cautious but significant step toward stabilising one of Asia’s most critical relationships amid global tariff uncertainty.
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