Modi to Xi: Border peace crucial, ties shouldn't be seen through 'third-country lens'

In a two-pronged message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underscored that the future of India-China relations hinges on continued peace along the border and should not be viewed through a “third-country” lens.

“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 Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement, following the Modi–Xi meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

In this context, the “third country lens” refers in part to the United States and in part to Pakistan.

Sources said that the message to Washington is that India-China relations are independent, even though New Delhi is part of the Quad alongside the US, Japan, and Australia. The other ‘third-party’ is Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a China-funded and weaponised flank on India’s western front.

Modi’s visit to China is being closely watched, as it comes amid a downturn in India–US ties triggered by tariff policies imposed by Washington.

As expected, the long-standing border issue also came up during the talks. Modi clearly linked ‘peace’ in border areas to ‘bilateral relations’. The MEA statement noted: “The Prime Minister underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for the continued development of bilateral relations.”

The MEA statement further added that “Modi and Xi have expressed a commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples.”

Modi and Xi expressed satisfaction over the “maintenance of peace and tranquillity” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since the disengagement of troops in October last year.

They also agreed to support the measures taken during the 24th round of Special Representative-level talks held in New Delhi on August 19 between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both Doval and Wang were present during the Modi–Xi meeting in Tianjin.

The two leaders reaffirmed that India and China are “development partners, not rivals,” and agreed that differences should not turn into disputes, the statement said. The two countries emphasised the need to adopt a political and strategic approach to expand bilateral trade and investment ties while addressing the trade deficit.

They also highlighted the importance of expanding common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges—such as terrorism and fair trade—within multilateral platforms.

Modi and Xi also noted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa.

The meeting marked the first encounter between Modi and Xi since their last interaction at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. Modi, in his opening remarks on Sunday, described those talks as “meaningful” and said they provided the “right direction.”

Modi’s visit to China primarily aims to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for August 31 and September 1.

Following the bilateral meeting, Modi also held discussions with Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. He shared his vision for the future of bilateral relations, while Cai reiterated China’s desire to expand bilateral exchanges and further improve ties in line with the consensus reached between Modi and Xi.