‘Vital to be friends’: In talks with PM Modi, China’s Xi says time for ‘Dragon, Elephant to come together’

In his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that it is vital for India and China to be friends and good neighbours. He further said that the two countries need to come together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Xi said that the world is going through transformation and India and China must be mindful of the evolving situation.

Xi met Modi on Sunday on the sidelines of the SCO Summit at China’s Tianjin. The two leaders are meeting for the first time in either’s country for the first time in six years. Last years, Xi and Modi had a bilateral meeting in Russia’s Kazan on the sidelines of the Brics Summit.

Xi further said, “The World is going towards transformation. China and India are two of the most civilizational countries. We are the world’s two most populous countries and part of the Global South… It is vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and the Dragon and the Elephant to come together.”

VIDEO | Tianjin, China: In his opening remarks during delegation-level talks with PM Narendra Modi (@narendramodi), Chinese President Xi Jinping says, “The World is going towards transformation. China and India are two of the most civilizational countries. We are the world’s two… pic.twitter.com/o68nwHXFjH

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 31, 2025

Xi continued, “This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic relations. Both nations need to handle our relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective. We must also step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.”

ALSO READ — Cooperate, compete, confront: India’s China approach amid Trump’s disruption — as fundamental tensions remain

On his part, Modi said that cooperation between India and China will “pave the way for the welfare of all humanity”.

“We are committed to advancing our relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity,” Modi further said.

India and China are currently in the process of resetting the bilateral relationship. In 2020, Chinese incursions along the disputed border and resultant clashes, including clashes at Galwan Valley in June 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, plunged the bilateral relationshi62p to its worst point since the India-China War of 1962. Last year, however, the two countries reached a deal to partially resolve the standoff in Ladakh. Earlier this month, the two countries announced the resumption of direct flights and border trade.