{"id":340,"date":"2025-08-31T08:02:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T08:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-better-ties-sco\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T08:02:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T08:02:37","slug":"modi-xi-india-china-better-ties-sco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-better-ties-sco\/","title":{"rendered":"At SCO Summit, Modi Tells Xi India Is Committed to Better Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>At a sideline meeting during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on <time datetime=\"2025-08-31\">Aug 31, 2025<\/time>, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping that New Delhi is committed to improving relations with Beijing, citing a steadier Himalayan frontier and new steps to restart connectivity as both sides seek to move beyond years of border tensions.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Modi and Xi met in Tianjin during the two-day SCO gathering, Modi\u2019s first trip to China in seven years.<\/li>\n<li>Modi said the border environment has shifted toward \u201cpeace and stability\u201d and noted a new understanding on border management; details were not disclosed.<\/li>\n<li>Xi said the border issue should not define the overall relationship, according to Chinese state media.<\/li>\n<li>The meeting came five days after Washington\u2019s 50% tariffs on Indian goods took effect, a move tied to India\u2019s purchases of Russian oil.<\/li>\n<li>India said direct flights between the two countries, suspended since 2020, are being resumed; no date was given.<\/li>\n<li>China recently agreed to lift export curbs on rare earths, fertilizers and tunnel boring machines during Foreign Minister Wang Yi\u2019s visit to India.<\/li>\n<li>Despite a thaw, friction points remain: a record $99.2 billion India trade deficit with China this year, concerns over a planned Tibetan mega-dam, the Dalai Lama\u2019s presence in India, and China\u2019s support for Pakistan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Verified Facts<\/h2>\n<p>Modi and Xi held their discussion on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, which also drew Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders from across Central, South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The trip marks Modi\u2019s first visit to China since 2018, underscoring a cautious reset amid broader Global South consultations.<\/p>\n<p>Modi said conditions on the disputed Himalayan frontier have improved, with both sides cultivating \u201cpeace and stability.\u201d He added that the two countries reached an understanding on border management, though neither side provided specifics. The frontier has been a major flashpoint since deadly clashes in 2020 froze most bilateral cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>The talks came soon after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, citing India\u2019s purchases of Russian oil. Analysts say Beijing and New Delhi have incentives to present a more united front under tightening Western trade and technology pressures.<\/p>\n<p>Steps to normalize ties have gathered pace. India said direct flights\u2014halted since 2020\u2014are being restored, and China has agreed to ease export restrictions on rare earths, fertilizers and tunnel boring machines. In recent months, China allowed Indian pilgrims to visit Buddhist sites in Tibet, and both sides lifted reciprocal tourist visa curbs. A breakthrough meeting in Russia last year, following a border patrol accord, set the stage for the latest thaw.<\/p>\n<h2>Context &#038; Impact<\/h2>\n<p>Geopolitically, closer coordination between Asia\u2019s two largest countries could reshape regional alignments as India balances relationships with the West and Russia, and China navigates a complex external environment. The SCO setting provided a convenient platform to signal Global South cohesion without formal treaty commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Economically, China remains India\u2019s largest bilateral trade partner, yet the trade gap hit a record <abbr title=\"United States Dollars\">$<\/abbr>99.2 billion this year\u2014a persistent concern for Indian policymakers. Easing export curbs and restoring flights could support supply chains, infrastructure projects and tourism, though India\u2019s domestic manufacturing goals and security reviews will continue to shape market access.<\/p>\n<p>Long-term sensitivities endure. New Delhi fears a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet could reduce dry-season flows on the Brahmaputra by up to 85% according to Indian government estimates, raising water security risks downstream. China\u2019s backing for Pakistan and India\u2019s hosting of the Dalai Lama also remain structural irritants.<\/p>\n<h3>Recent Milestones<\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Date<\/th>\n<th>Development<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>2020<\/td>\n<td>Deadly clashes on the Himalayan frontier; direct flights suspended; ties freeze.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2024<\/td>\n<td>Modi and Xi meet in Russia after a border patrol agreement, beginning a tentative thaw.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug 2025<\/td>\n<td>U.S. 50% tariffs on Indian goods take effect, citing Russian oil purchases.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug 2025<\/td>\n<td>China agrees to lift curbs on rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel boring machines during Wang Yi\u2019s India visit.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug 31, 2025<\/td>\n<td>Modi\u2013Xi meeting in Tianjin at the SCO summit; flights set to resume, border management understanding noted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Official Statements<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>India is committed to advancing ties with China based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Narendra Modi, via his official X account<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The border should not define the overall China\u2013India relationship; both sides should view each other as partners.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Xi Jinping, as reported by Xinhua<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>China opposes steep U.S. tariffs on India and will stand with India on this issue.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Xu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to India<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: The boundary, the SCO, and why it matters<\/summary>\n<p>The Line of Actual Control (LAC) separates Indian- and Chinese-controlled territories in the Himalayas. Its differing interpretations have led to periodic standoffs, most notably in 2020. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian political and security forum led by China and Russia, with India, Pakistan and several Central Asian states as members. Meetings on the SCO\u2019s sidelines often facilitate bilateral diplomacy outside formal summits.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Exact provisions and timelines of the new border management understanding were not disclosed.<\/li>\n<li>No schedule was provided for the resumption of direct commercial flights.<\/li>\n<li>Scope, timing and implementation details of China\u2019s easing of export curbs were not specified in official readouts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The Tianjin meeting signals a pragmatic thaw: both sides want to stabilize the border, restart travel and trade, and manage rivalry under intensifying global headwinds. Concrete, verifiable steps\u2014flight resumptions, trade facilitation, and sustained disengagement along the frontier\u2014will determine whether this opening endures.<\/p>\n<p>With structural disputes still unresolved, progress is likely to be incremental. Yet even limited cooperation could reduce risks of miscalculation while offering economic and diplomatic breathing room for both governments.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/india-committed-improving-ties-china-modi-tells-xi-2025-08-31\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/english.news.cn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xinhua<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/narendramodi\">Prime Minister of India (official X)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Press Information Bureau, Government of India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/in.china-embassy.gov.cn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embassy of the People\u2019s Republic of China in India<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At a sideline meeting during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on Aug 31, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping that New Delhi is committed to improving relations with Beijing, citing a steadier Himalayan frontier and new steps to restart connectivity as both sides seek to move beyond years &#8230; <a title=\"At SCO Summit, Modi Tells Xi India Is Committed to Better Ties\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-better-ties-sco\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about At SCO Summit, Modi Tells Xi India Is Committed to Better Ties\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Modi tells Xi India seeks better ties at SCO | Global Desk","rank_math_description":"At the SCO summit in Tianjin, Modi told Xi India aims to improve ties as border tensions ease and flights return, even as US tariffs and deep trade gaps loom.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"India-China relations,SCO summit,border standoff,US tariffs,direct flights,rare earths","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}