Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping concur on the importance of collaborating, symbolized as the 'dragon and elephant', in the backdrop of the Trump tariffs.
In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting in Tianjin, China, on Sunday, marking a new chapter in the complex relationship between the two nations.
The meeting, which comes nearly five years after the Galwan Valley clashes, is aimed at improving relations between India and China. The leaders discussed a breakthrough agreement from their meeting at the BRICS summit in Kazan last year, aimed at resolving a four-year military standoff on their border. Both leaders expressed a commitment to a fair, reasonable resolution of the boundary issue.
After border disengagement, an atmosphere of peace and stability is now in place, and special representatives have reached an agreement on border management. The special envoys involved in the border negotiation process belong to India and China.
The meeting is also significant as it takes place against the backdrop of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, for which Modi is in China on Xi's invitation. The leaders recognized the role of their two economies in stabilizing world trade and underlined the need to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce trade deficit.
PM Modi stated that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed, and direct flights are being resumed between the two countries. He also emphasized the need for mutual trust in advancing relations, including trade and investment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the world is undergoing transformation, and China and India are two of the most civilizational countries, populous nations, and key members of the Global South. Xi also expressed the importance of the two countries being friends, good neighbors, and coming together.
The meeting between the top leaders of India, China, and Russia is being watched with interest due to their potential economic and political power. However, the relationship between India and the United States has been strained recently, with US President Trump doubling tariffs on Indian products to 50% as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil and allegedly fueling Moscow's war against Ukraine. This threatens labor-intensive exports such as garments, leather, shrimps, and jewellery.
Despite these challenges, both Modi and Xi have expressed a desire to strengthen their relationship. During the meeting, Modi thanked Xi for China's assurance of addressing India's needs for fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel boring machines, as assured by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his recent visit to India.
The article was published on August 31, 2025. The meeting between the leaders is a step towards resolving long-standing issues and strengthening the economic ties between India and China. The future of this relationship will be closely watched by the international community.
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