- Tianjin, Aug 31 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Sunday, said that cooperation between India and China will pave the way for the “welfare of the entire humanity.” He reaffirmed that New Delhi is committed to taking forward bilateral relations on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.
The meeting, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and building on recent progress in India-China relations, was held on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. It also came against the backdrop of US tariff threats.
In his opening remarks, Modi said:
“I thank President Xi Jinping for your invitation. Last year, we held fruitful discussions in Kazan, which helped in providing a positive trend to our relations. After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created. There is an agreement between our special representatives in the field of border management. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has started again. Direct flights are also being resumed between the two nations.”
The Prime Minister stressed that the interests of 2.8 billion people across both countries are directly linked to cooperation between the two nations.
“This will also pave the way for the welfare of the entire humanity. We are dedicated to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” he added.
Modi also congratulated Xi on assuming the Chairmanship of the SCO.
Top officials from both governments attended the meeting, including NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri from the Indian side, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi from the Chinese side.
The last engagement between the two leaders had taken place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in 2024.
This breakthrough in dialogue followed an agreement between India and China on patrolling protocols along the 3,500-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which effectively eased a four-year border confrontation. The talks in Tianjin also included discussions on the long-standing border issues.
Experts suggest that the meeting is both “symbolic” and strategically important, not only for strengthening India-China ties but also as a counterbalance to the tariff threats posed by the United States.
—IANS
