{"id":364,"date":"2025-08-31T16:32:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T16:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-partners-sco\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T16:32:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T16:32:15","slug":"modi-xi-india-china-partners-sco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-partners-sco\/","title":{"rendered":"At SCO summit, Modi and Xi cast India\u2013China as partners, not rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>On <time datetime=\"2025-08-31\">Aug 31, 2025<\/time> in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to frame the two countries as development partners rather than competitors, discussing trade, investment and steps to stabilise their disputed border in a bid to steady ties amid new global tariff pressures.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Modi met Xi in Tianjin during the SCO summit, his first visit to China in seven years.<\/li>\n<li>Both leaders said the relationship should be partnership-focused, with plans to expand trade and investment.<\/li>\n<li>Modi highlighted an improving \u201cpeace and stability\u201d environment along the Himalayan frontier following a 2024 patrolling accord.<\/li>\n<li>India\u2019s trade deficit with China stands near $99.2 billion; talks addressed narrowing the gap and lifting curbs on key exports.<\/li>\n<li>The meeting came five days after the United States imposed tariffs totaling 50% on Indian goods, intensifying external economic pressure.<\/li>\n<li>Direct flights are set to resume after a four-year suspension; China has moved to ease export restrictions on rare earths, fertilisers and tunnel boring machines.<\/li>\n<li>Long-running disputes persist, including border management, water security tied to a planned Tibetan dam, and differences over the Dalai Lama and Pakistan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Verified Facts<\/h2>\n<p>During their bilateral in Tianjin, Xi and Modi agreed to characterise India\u2013China ties as an opportunity for mutual development. They discussed ways to boost trade and investment while addressing India\u2019s large bilateral trade deficit, which reached about $99.2 billion this year, even as China remains India\u2019s largest goods trade partner.<\/p>\n<p>Modi stressed the importance of maintaining calm along the Line of Actual Control after the deadly 2020 clash\u2014when 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed\u2014triggered a prolonged standoff and heavy militarisation. India\u2019s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said a border patrolling agreement reached in October 2024 has helped the situation \u201cmove toward normalisation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Xi signalled that the boundary question should not dominate the overall relationship, arguing that both sides should view each other as partners. The two leaders also discussed expanding practical cooperation on regional and global issues, including counterterrorism and fair trade rules in multilateral forums, according to India\u2019s foreign ministry.<\/p>\n<p>The outreach follows U.S. tariffs totaling 50% on Indian goods announced by President Donald Trump, which analysts say were influenced in part by India\u2019s purchases of Russian oil. The move complicates Washington\u2019s effort to deepen strategic ties with New Delhi as a counterweight to Beijing and adds urgency to India\u2019s search for economic diversification.<\/p>\n<p>Specific steps to thaw ties are advancing. Modi said direct flights\u2014suspended since 2020\u2014will be restored, though no start date was provided. Beijing has also moved to lift export curbs on rare earths, fertilisers and tunnel boring machines after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi\u2019s recent visit to India. China\u2019s ambassador in New Delhi, Xu Feihong, publicly opposed the U.S. tariff hike and said Beijing would \u201cstand with India\u201d on the issue.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Indicator<\/th>\n<th>Latest detail<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Border length<\/td>\n<td>3,800 km (2,400 miles), poorly demarcated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2020 clash casualties<\/td>\n<td>20 Indian, 4 Chinese soldiers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>India\u2019s trade deficit with China<\/td>\n<td>~$99.2 billion (2025)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>U.S. tariffs on Indian goods<\/td>\n<td>Totaling 50% (took effect five days before meeting)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Direct flights<\/td>\n<td>Suspended since 2020; resumption announced (timing TBD)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Key figures shaping India\u2013China ties in 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Context &#038; Impact<\/h2>\n<p>The Tianjin summit brought together leaders from Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian states, underscoring a broader Global South push for policy coordination. For Beijing and New Delhi, presenting a less adversarial relationship reduces friction at a time of volatile tariffs and realignment of supply chains.<\/p>\n<p>Border stabilisation\u2014if sustained\u2014could unlock incremental confidence-building, more cross-border exchanges and a clearer runway for trade talks. Easing export curbs on critical inputs such as rare earths and fertilisers may offer near-term relief to Indian manufacturers and farmers, while the return of direct flights would restore vital people-to-people and business links.<\/p>\n<p>Enduring fault lines remain. India worries a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet could, in the dry season, sharply reduce Brahmaputra River flows\u2014Indian government estimates suggest up to an 85% cut\u2014while political sensitivities over the Dalai Lama and China\u2019s close partnership with Pakistan continue to complicate trust.<\/p>\n<h3>Official Statements<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>We intend to advance ties grounded in mutual respect and sensitivities, with border calm enabling progress.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Narendra Modi<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The boundary question should not overshadow the broader relationship; both sides are development partners.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Xi Jinping<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Following the October 2024 patrolling arrangement, the frontier situation is moving toward normal.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Vikram Misri, India\u2019s Foreign Secretary<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>What is the SCO?<\/summary>\n<p>The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian political and security bloc that includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan and Central Asian states. It focuses on regional stability, counterterrorism, economic cooperation and connectivity. Summits often host bilateral meetings that can defuse tensions or announce new initiatives.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>What to watch next<\/summary>\n<p>&#8211; Timetable and routes for the resumption of direct India\u2013China flights<br \/>&#8211; Concrete measures to narrow India\u2019s trade deficit and any tariff responses<br \/>&#8211; Additional border confidence-building steps and patrol protocols<br \/>&#8211; Follow-through on China\u2019s easing of export curbs and visa facilitation<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h3>Unconfirmed<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>No official timetable has been announced for restoring direct flights.<\/li>\n<li>Details of the scope and pace of lifting Chinese export curbs were not published.<\/li>\n<li>The cited 85% dry-season flow reduction on the Brahmaputra is an Indian government estimate; Chinese authorities have not endorsed that figure.<\/li>\n<li>Analysts link U.S. tariffs partly to India\u2019s Russian oil purchases; the precise weighting of factors has not been formally disclosed by Washington.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Bottom Line<\/h3>\n<p>Beijing and New Delhi are engineering a cautious thaw\u2014signalling partnership, reviving connectivity and easing some trade frictions\u2014without resolving core disputes. If border stabilisation holds and economic steps materialise, expect incremental normalisation; setbacks remain possible given sensitive security, water and geopolitical issues.<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/\" 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:\/\/mea.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">India Ministry of External Affairs<\/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=\"https:\/\/takshashila.org.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Takshashila Institution<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Aug 31, 2025 in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to frame the two countries as development partners rather than competitors, discussing trade, investment and steps to stabilise their disputed border in a bid to steady ties &#8230; <a title=\"At SCO summit, Modi and Xi cast India\u2013China as partners, not rivals\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/modi-xi-india-china-partners-sco\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about At SCO summit, Modi and Xi cast India\u2013China as partners, not rivals\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Modi, Xi pitch India-China as partners at SCO | Global Desk","rank_math_description":"At the SCO summit in Tianjin, Modi and Xi cast India and China as partners, discussing trade, border stability, flight resumptions and easing curbs amid new U.S. tariffs.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"India-China relations,SCO summit,Narendra Modi,Xi Jinping,US tariffs,border dispute","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-364","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\/364","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=364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}