Will PM Modi and Xi Jinping Strengthen Ties Today in Tianjin?

Tianjin, Aug 31 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Sunday as part of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This marks their first face-to-face discussion in ten months.

The talks are anticipated to concentrate on enhancing bilateral relations and building upon the recent advancements in India-China ties.

The last interaction between the two leaders occurred on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia, in 2024.

Progress in dialogue was facilitated after both nations reached a consensus on patrolling protocols along the 3,500-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), effectively easing a prolonged four-year border dispute.

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India for the latest round of Special Representatives (SR) discussions concerning the boundary issue, emphasizing that Beijing values PM Modi's visit.

In his dialogue with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Wang Yi remarked, "The Chinese side places great significance on the Prime Minister's visit to China for the SCO summit at our invitation. We are confident that the Indian side will contribute positively to a successful summit in Tianjin. History and reality reaffirm that a stable and healthy China-India relationship benefits both nations and is desired by developing countries worldwide."

Earlier this week, PM Modi, in an interview with Japan's The Yomiuri Shimbun, stressed India's commitment to advancing relations with China based on "mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity."

He observed that since his meeting with Xi Jinping in Kazan last year, bilateral relations have experienced "steady and positive progress."

When asked about the significance of enhancing ties with Beijing, PM Modi stated, "At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, I will be traveling to Tianjin to participate in the SCO Summit. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, there has been steady and positive progress in our bilateral relations."

"Stable, predictable, and friendly relations between India and China, as neighboring nations and the two largest countries globally, can significantly influence regional and global peace and prosperity. This is vital for a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world," he added.

Addressing the global economic landscape, the Prime Minister remarked, "Given the current fluctuations in the world economy, it is crucial for India and China, as major economies, to collaborate in fostering stability within the global economic order."