Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Sunday (August 31), ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, with both leaders stressing the need to strengthen cooperation and stability in bilateral ties.
Chinese President Xi told Prime Minister Modi, “China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals, and that the two countries are each other’s development opportunities rather than threats.” He added, “As long as the two countries stick to this overarching direction, China-India relations can sustain steady and long-term growth.”
President Xi further said the two Asian giants should become “neighbors on good terms and partners helping each other succeed,” describing a “cooperative pas de deux (dance) of the dragon and the elephant” as the right choice for both nations. He urged India and China to strengthen strategic communication, expand exchanges, and ensure that border issues do not define the overall relationship.
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PM Modi echoed the sentiment, saying, “With cooperation between our nations, the interests of 2.8 billion people are associated — this is needed for humanity.” He noted that the situation on the India–China border is peaceful after disengagement, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed, and direct flights between the two countries are being restarted.
The meeting also comes as India and China mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The Indian Foreign Secretary is scheduled to hold a press briefing in Tianjin at 7 p.m.
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