PM Modi Tells Xi in Tianjin: India Wants Stronger Ties Built on Mutual Respect

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Tianjin on Sunday, marking their first bilateral engagement in nearly a year. The 40-minute discussion was attended only by the leaders and their interpreters. It aimed to build on the limited progress made since their October 2024 meeting at the BRICS summit in Kazan.

The talks come amid a complex international backdrop, with both nations seeking to stabilise their relationship. For India, these discussions are significant as tensions with Washington rise due to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods and criticism of New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian crude oil.

Focus on Mutual Trust and Respect

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that mutual trust and respect would advance India-China relations. He noted that last year's discussions in Kazan had positively directed their ties. "After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created," he stated.

Modi's visit to China is his first in seven years. He arrived from Japan on Saturday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and hold separate meetings with key leaders. In a post on X before the summit, Modi expressed anticipation for engaging with world leaders during the event.

Progress Through Backchannel Efforts

The meeting builds on quiet backchannel efforts initiated after the Kazan summit. Both countries have taken steps toward troop disengagement along contested parts of the Line of Actual Control and cautiously resumed limited travel and cultural exchanges.

On August 19, India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi. They agreed to a 10-point consensus, including activating long-dormant border management mechanisms and creating a new expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) for boundary delimitation.

Trade, Investment, and Security Concerns

Trade and investment issues were also discussed alongside security concerns during Sunday's talks. Despite cautious optimism, troop deployments remain unresolved, with both countries maintaining an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 troops each along the frontier.

The Tianjin meeting reflects a balancing act for New Delhi, framed as a routine bilateral interaction on the sidelines of the SCO summit. However, shifting regional alignments and new economic pressures mean that these talks carry wider implications for India's strategic positioning.

Commitment to Cooperation

"The interests of 2.8 billion people of both countries are linked to our cooperation," Modi said during the meeting. "This will also pave the way for the welfare of humanity." He reiterated India's commitment to advancing relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.

An agreement between Special Representatives regarding border management has been reached. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed, along with direct flights between India and China.

Officials expect Modi and Xi to endorse a calendar marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and China this weekend as final preparations are underway.