What happened?
On August 31, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing India-China relations on the basis of mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity. They welcomed the positive momentum since their previous meeting in Kazan in October 2024. The talks focused on ensuring peace along the border, and also discussed resolving the boundary issue through Special Representatives, boosting people-to-people exchanges with direct flights, visa facilitation, and cultural ties, as well as expanding trade. Cooperation on terrorism, multilateral trade fairness, and regional stability was also emphasized. PM Modi expressed support for China’s SCO Presidency, invited President Xi to the 2026 BRICS Summit in India, and also held separate talks with senior Chinese leader Cai Qi on implementing the leaders’ consensus.
Why it matters to India
The meeting reflects a cautious reset in India-China ties after years of strain following border tensions. Cooperation in global platforms like SCO and BRICS strengthens India’s diplomatic leverage, while signaling its pursuit of strategic autonomy independent of other powers. The engagement also shows that India is balancing competition with dialogue, keeping channels open with Beijing amid shifting regional and global dynamics.