India and China Seek Stronger Ties Amid SCO Summit in China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is committed to improving relations with China during a key meeting with President Xi Jinping on Sunday, as both countries agreed to set aside differences from a long-standing border standoff.
Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit alongside leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit brings together nations from Central, South, and Southeast Asia and the Middle East in a show of Global South solidarity.
Progress on Border and Bilateral Relations
Modi told Xi that India aims to strengthen relations based on mutual respect, trust, and sensitivity, noting that peace and stability have been restored along the disputed Himalayan border. The leaders reached a preliminary border management agreement, although details were not disclosed.
Xi emphasized that China-India ties could be “stable and far-reaching” if both nations focus on partnership rather than rivalry, according to Chinese state media.
Economic and Travel Developments
Modi announced that direct flights between India and China, suspended since 2020, are in the process of being resumed. Earlier this month, China agreed to lift export curbs on rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines during a visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Broader Context and Strategic Considerations
The meeting comes shortly after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods over purchases of Russian oil. Analysts suggest India and China are signaling a united front against Western pressure.
China is India’s largest bilateral trade partner, but the trade deficit reached a record $99.2 billion this year. Other tensions remain, including concerns over a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet, which could reduce flows of the Brahmaputra River, and India’s hosting of the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing considers a separatist threat.
SCO Summit Highlights
The SCO includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, along with 16 observer and dialogue partner countries. More than 20 leaders are attending, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Discussions during the summit cover issues ranging from regional stability and connectivity to the Ukraine conflict and Iran’s nuclear programme. China and Russia have increasingly used the SCO to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations and balance Western influence in the region.
Upcoming Events
Many leaders are scheduled to visit Beijing on Wednesday to attend a military parade, which will also be attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
