PM Modi and Jinping agree to promote people-to-people exchanges

Dragon and elephant can dance together: Chinese President tells Indian PM

Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sunday, where the two state heads agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges.

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the progress of India-China ties since they last met in Russia’s Kazan in 2024. They reaffirmed that the two countries were development partners and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that New Delhi and Beijing should “remain friends” and foster good neighbourly ties so that the “dragon and the elephant can dance together” in mutual success. In his opening remarks during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin, Xi Jinping called India and China important member countries of the Global South.

He emphasised that the two nations should take the responsibility of improving the well-being of their people and promoting the solidarity and rejuvenation of developing nations. In a statement shared on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “PM Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China. The two leaders reviewed the progress of India-China bilateral relations since their meeting in Kazan last year. Stable and amicable ties between India and China are important for our economic growth, for reformed multilateralism and for a multipolar world and Asia. Supported the work of the two SRs on the boundary question. Agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges. Predictable economic and trade cooperation between India and China helps stabilise the world economy.”

PM Modi underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for continued development of bilateral relations, according to an MEA press release. The two leaders noted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visas.

In a press release, the MEA stated, “The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the border areas since then. They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognised the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their talks earlier this month and agreed to further support their efforts.”

On economic and trade relations, PM Modi and Xi Jinping recognised the role of their two economies in stabilising world trade. They underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce the trade deficit.

The MEA further stated, “The Prime Minister noted that India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country lens. The two leaders deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms.”

PM Modi expressed support for China’s presidency of the SCO and also invited President Xi for the BRICS Summit that India will be hosting in 2026. Xi Jinping thanked PM Modi for the invitation and offered China’s support to India’s BRICS Presidency. (IANS)

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