Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi Pledge to Bolster Friendship and Partnership Amidst US Tensions and Global Upheaval
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of their nations fostering a friendly and cooperative relationship during a meeting on Sunday, as both countries navigate shared challenges with the United States.
The summit in Tianjin marked Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, following a period of growing tensions between the two neighbors. Upon arrival, Modi and Xi shook hands and posed for photographs before their private discussions commenced.
Xi acknowledged the current global climate of profound change, expressing that the international situation is fluid and chaotic. He then suggested that it would be advantageous for both nations to maintain friendly ties, strengthen each other’s success, and collaborate harmoniously, likening the relationship to a dance between the dragon (China) and the elephant (India), traditional symbols of both countries.
Modi thanked Xi for the invitation and referenced the recent easing of tensions along their contested Himalayan border, where deadly skirmishes occurred in 2020. He also expressed a commitment to advancing bilateral relations based on mutual trust and respect.
The meeting took place during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gathering, a regional security alliance backed by China and Russia that has emerged as a significant geopolitical force for Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi’s attendance and subsequent talks with Xi represent a notable development in Sino-Indian relations.
As the war in Ukraine continues, Western leaders have intensified pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US tariffs on Indian exports have been implemented due to India’s purchases of Russian oil, which Washington views as supporting Putin’s invasion. Both China and India are significant consumers of Russian oil.
Tensions between the United States and India have escalated recently, straining decades of diplomatic efforts aimed at driving a wedge between New Delhi and Moscow. India has maintained that it does not take sides in the conflict and held discussions with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday to exchange views on the ongoing situation.
The SCO summit is expected to attract more than 20 leaders, including those from member nations such as Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. China has expressed satisfaction with the reduced tensions between India and itself, particularly in light of the increasingly close security partnership between India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, which Beijing views as an attempt to counterbalance its growing influence.
Since their meeting at the BRICS summit in Russia last October, there has been a gradual improvement in Sino-Indian relations. The countries have resumed direct flights canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reopened pilgrimage sites in western Tibet for Indians after a five-year hiatus, and restarted issuing tourist visas for each other’s citizens.
Following a visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi earlier this month, both countries agreed on “ten points of consensus” aimed at further reducing tensions. However, observers caution that personal mistrust between Xi and Modi may hinder the full normalization of relations, particularly given the ongoing disputes along their undefined border, known as the Line of Actual Control, which has been a source of conflict since their 1962 war.