Amid the threat of India-US ties sliding into a semi comatose state, and the global unease over US’ coercive trade policy, PM Narendra Modi joined hands with President Xi Jinping to expand “common ground” on bilateral, regional, and global challenges including fair trade and terrorism – both otherwise sticking points in bilateral ties – in multilateral platforms. As relations improve, Modi agreed with Xi that India and China are development partners, not rivals. It’s China which has mostly used that formulation in recent times. They also agreed their economies can help stabilize world trade. Significantly, Modi explicitly mentioned India’s strategic autonomy in the meeting saying both countries follow it, and their ties should not be seen through a third country lens. The reaffirmation of strategic autonomy on Chinese soil, which found a rare mention in an Indian press statement, is reassuring for both Beijing and Moscow, and is also a message to top Trump administration officials who have accused India of “cosying up” to China. Modi and Xi also committed to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, from the political perspective of overall relations and long-term interests of the people of India and China. On whether Trump’s tariff policy was discussed, officials said the leaders focused on working towards long-term growth and development of both countries and dealing with the challenges posed by global trade disruption. Modi invited Xi for the BRICS summit next year in India and the president offered support for India’s upcoming presidency. The hour-long meeting in Tianjin, on the margins of the SCO summit, did not see any major announcement, but helped solidify the recent improvement in the relationship as Modi underlined the significance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the border areas for continued development of ties and Xi committed to reducing the trade deficit between the 2 countries. “They underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce trade deficit,” said foreign secretary Vikram Misri, adding Modi and Xi agreed common interests outweigh differences between India and China. Modi said in a post on X he had a fruitful meeting with Xi, as they reviewed the positive momentum in relations since their last meeting in Kazan. “We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and reaffirmed our commitment to cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity,” said Modi, welcoming the return of peace and stability in the border areas and the recent agreement between the Special Representatives for border management. Modi also welcomed the decision to resume direct flights between India and China. Modi told Xi a stable relationship and cooperation between India and China and their 2.8 billion people on the 3 mutuals (respect, interest and sensitivity) is necessary for the growth and development of the two countries, welfare of all humanity as well as for “a multipolar world and a multi-polar Asia befitting the trends of the 21st century”. On the framing of the relationship as partners, and not rivals, Misri said this is what was desirable. Modi and Xi also called for strengthening people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visas. Modi and Xi also discussed the border issue in detail noting with satisfaction, as the Indian readout said, the successful disengagement last year and the return and maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then. They reiterated differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes. “They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognized the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their talks earlier this month and agreed to further support their efforts,” said the Indian statement. In the SR talks in August, both sides had agreed to set up an expert group to explore Early Harvest in boundary delimitation in the India-China border areas. Another working group to advance effective border management and maintain border peace is also being set up.
