Ties hinge on border peace: PM Narendra Modi to Xi Jinping

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

Xi, for his part, said the two sides should not let the border issue define the overall relationship. Suggesting a partnership, he described it as the “dancing of the dragon and the elephant”. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

It was their first meeting since October last year. Talks included boosting trade, resuming direct flights, sharing data on trans-border rivers and reaffirming the idea that India and China are “development partners, not rivals”.

On the boundary issue, Modi linked peace in border areas directly to bilateral progress. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The Prime Minister underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity on the border areas for continued development of bilateral relations.”

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, at a news conference in China, reiterated, “The status of the boundary will impact bilateral ties. Peace and tranquillity (at the border) is an insurance policy for bilateral relations.”

Misri, elaborating on talks between the two leaders on the margins of the SCO summit, said Modi mentioned the challenge of cross-border terrorism and pitched for extending support to each other to combat it as both India and China had been impacted by the menace. “We have received understanding and cooperation from China as we deal with the issue of cross-border terrorism in context of the ongoing SCO summit,” he said.

At the bilateral meeting, Modi said, “Both India and China pursue strategic autonomy and their relations should not be seen through the prism of a third country.” In this context, the “third country lens” refers to the US and Pakistan.

Sources said New Delhi’s message to Washington was that India-China relations remained independent despite India’s participation in the Quad. Pakistan, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a China-backed flank to India’s west.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” boundary settlement, the MEA said. Modi and Xi noted that peace had held since the disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in October last year. They also endorsed steps agreed upon by Special Representatives Ajit Doval and Wang Yi at their August 19 talks in New Delhi.

Misri said the new mechanism announced after those talks would “define the way forward on delimitation of the boundary”.

Modi’s visit is being closely watched against the backdrop of recent strains in India-US relations over Washington’s tariff policies. Misri confirmed that the “international situation” was discussed, though did not specify if tariffs came up.

The MEA statement said Modi and Xi reaffirmed that India and China are “development partners and not rivals” and that their differences must not turn into disputes. Modi, recalling his last meeting with Xi at Kazan during the BRICS summit in October 2024, said those talks had been “meaningful and set the right direction”.

Modi also held a separate meeting with Cai Qi, member of the standing committee of the politburo of the Communist Party of China. Modi shared his vision for bilateral relations, while Cai reiterated Beijing’s desire to expand exchanges and improve ties. A trusted aide of Xi, Cai had planned to host a banquet for Modi, which could not take place due to scheduling issues.