Sun Aug 31 09:05:44 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Tianjin, China on August 31, 2025, on the sidelines of the SCO summit. They pledged to work towards resolving the border dispute in a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” manner and to stabilize global trade amid economic uncertainties. Both leaders emphasized that India and China are development partners, not rivals, and that differences should not escalate into disputes. They discussed expanding common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues, including terrorism and fair trade, and welcomed progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting. Modi invited Xi to the 2026 BRICS summit in India.
**News Article:**
**India and China Pledge Cooperation on Border and Trade at SCO Summit**
**Tianjin, China – August 31, 2025** – In a significant development on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on Sunday, where they committed to pursuing a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” solution to the long-standing border dispute between the two nations. The leaders also pledged to work together to stabilize global trade, amidst growing economic anxieties stemming from international tariff disputes.
Both Modi and Xi emphasized that India and China view each other as development partners rather than rivals, stressing that differences between the two countries should not be allowed to become disputes. The leaders recognized the significant role their economies play in stabilizing global trade and signaled a cooperative approach to navigating the current economic uncertainties.
“India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and our relations should not be viewed through the lens of a third country,” stated an Indian readout of the meeting.
Discussions also centered on expanding common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues such as terrorism and fair trade practices within multilateral forums. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their meeting last October.
Progress on disengagement of troops along the border was also acknowledged, and both leaders committed to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border regions to facilitate continued bilateral development.
Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the BRICS summit in India in 2026, which Xi accepted and offered China’s support for India’s upcoming BRICS presidency.
The meeting signals a renewed commitment to cooperation and stability between the two Asian giants, with a focus on resolving long-standing issues and strengthening economic ties in an increasingly turbulent global landscape.
First Piper 