Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first meeting in ten months on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, signaling a fresh push to recalibrate India–China relations. The talks, marked by a tone of reconciliation, combined both substance and symbolism as the leaders sought to move beyond years of friction.
A key highlight was the decision to restart direct flights between India and China, suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic. While no dates were announced, the move is expected to ease travel, trade, and people-to-people contacts. Prime Minister Modi also underlined the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and tourist visas for Chinese citizens steps that suggest a cautious restoration of normal ties after years of pandemic disruptions.
The leaders acknowledged that disengagement efforts after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes have brought relative peace along the contested frontier. Both agreed that border tensions should not dictate the entire trajectory of bilateral ties. Xi described India and China as “friends and good neighbours,” while Modi stressed the need for strategic autonomy and urged that relations should not be viewed through the prism of third countries.
Economic cooperation emerged as a central theme. India’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle sector could attract Chinese companies, while Beijing is expected to benefit from greater access to Indian markets. China has pledged to address India’s requirements for rare earth minerals, fertilisers, and infrastructure machinery such as tunnel-boring equipment. Both sides also committed to reopening border trade routes following ministerial-level talks earlier this month.
Xi Jinping emphasized that India and China, as the world’s two most populous nations and key players in the Global South, must shoulder joint responsibilities in shaping fairer trade rules and tackling global challenges, including terrorism. Modi echoed the sentiment, highlighting that expanding common ground on regional and multilateral issues would strengthen their shared voice in international platforms.
The renewed momentum in India China ties comes as New Delhi’s relations with Washington face strain due to steep U.S. tariffs on Indian goods under President Donald Trump’s administration. Analysts note that the optics of Modi and Xi drawing closer could serve as a subtle signal that India is not bound by Western strategic frameworks and is willing to chart its own course.
While fundamental differences remain unresolved, particularly over the border, the summit’s outcomes underscore a pragmatic recalibration. Flights, pilgrimages, trade corridors, and diplomatic language pointing to “long-term stability” suggest both nations are willing to compartmentalize disputes in favour of economic opportunity and geopolitical balance.