Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told China’s President Xi Jinping that he is committed to improving bilateral ties, indicating a growing closeness to Beijing only five days after the United States slapped steep tariffs on Indian goods.
“We are committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities,” Modi told Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that begins in Tianjin on Sunday.
Modi is in China for the first time in seven years to attend the two-day SCO summit, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders from Asia and the Middle East, in a show of Global South solidarity.
The Indian leader posted a video clip of his encounter with the Chinese president on his X account.
Xi also pledged to resolve border differences with India and bolster cooperation. He said he hoped the Tianjin meeting will “further elevate” and “promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations,” according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The two sides should “not let the border issue define the overall China-India relationship,” Xi said, adding that economic development for both countries should be their main focus.
“As long as they remain committed to the overarching goal of being partners, not rivals, and providing development opportunities, not threats, China-India relations will flourish and move forward steadily,” Xi said.
Modi’s statement came after longtime ally, the US, imposed punishing 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods on Wednesday over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, a move that may have accelerated his country’s ongoing thawing of relations with China.
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