Tianjin (China) | Aug 31, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin, marking his first visit to China in seven years. The bilateral meeting, lasting about 40 minutes, is being seen as a significant step in recalibrating India-China ties, strained since the 2020 Ladakh border standoff.

Modi’s Remarks at Bilateral Talks

In his opening statement, PM Modi underlined the importance of mutual respect in strengthening relations. “We are determined to take our relationship forward based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity. We extend our best wishes for the successful hosting of the SCO Summit, and I thank you for the invitation for this visit and this meeting,” he said.

Earlier, Modi also noted progress in bilateral exchanges since their meeting in Kazan during the 2024 BRICS summit. “Our relationship got a positive direction. There is peace and stability on the borders. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed. Direct flights are also being started between the two countries. With cooperation between our nations, the interests of 2.8 billion people are associated – this is needed for humanity,” he stated.

China’s Position on Global Trade and Tariffs

The meeting comes at a delicate moment in global geopolitics. Chinese envoy Xu Feihong recently slammed US President Donald Trump’s move to double tariffs on Indian goods, calling it “bullying.” The levy, raised to 50 percent, targeted New Delhi for continuing oil imports from Russia. While India faced the brunt of these trade measures, Beijing was spared, highlighting shifting equations in Washington’s foreign policy.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, in his recent meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, also emphasized cooperation amid “overwhelming bullying” in global trade. Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that “differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict,” signaling intent to stabilize ties with Beijing despite challenges.

Other Summit Developments

Apart from the Modi-Xi meeting, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli raised objections with Xi over the India-China agreement to use the Lipulekh pass as a trade route, which Kathmandu claims as its territory. India has rejected Nepal’s claim as unfounded.

The summit also features other high-level engagements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Modi ahead of his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set for Monday. Discussions are expected to center on the Ukraine conflict, trade, and India’s continued oil imports from Russia.

Who’s Attending

The SCO Summit 2025 has drawn several world leaders to Tianjin, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Established in 2001, the SCO has grown into a ten-member body representing a significant chunk of Eurasia and is seen as a counterweight to Western blocs.

Looking Ahead

For India, the summit is both a test of diplomatic agility and an opportunity. Modi’s outreach to Xi signals an intent to restore balance after years of mistrust, even as New Delhi navigates the pressures of US tariffs and its deepening energy ties with Moscow.

As the main leaders’ session begins on Monday, eyes will remain on how far the Modi-Xi reset can go in shaping the future of India-China relations and whether the message of “peace on borders” translates into durable trust.