Samarkand, August 31: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it is the “right choice” for India and China to remain friends, stressing that the two countries should cooperate as partners rather than view each other as rivals. The remarks came during talks on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Observers noted that the meeting gains added significance in the context of India-US trade tensions. Heavy tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods in recent months have prompted New Delhi to strengthen ties with Beijing. Analysts say the dialogue reflects a pragmatic recalibration, with India and China finding common ground amid global economic uncertainty.
“We both shoulder the historical responsibility of improving the well-being of our peoples, promoting the solidarity and rejuvenation of developing countries, and propelling the progress of human society,” Xi said. “It is the right choice for both to be friends who have good neighbourly and amicable ties, partners who enable each other’s success, and to have the dragon and the elephant dance together.”
Xi underlined the importance of approaching bilateral ties from a long-term and strategic perspective. “Both sides need to approach and handle our relationship from strategic heights and a long-term perspective so as to realise the sustained, sound, and steady development of our bilateral ties,” he said.
China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Xi telling Modi that the two countries are cooperation partners and development opportunities for each other, not threats. In a veiled reference to US policies, Xi said both nations must uphold multilateralism. “We must also step up our historic responsibility to uphold multilateralism, work together to bring about a multipolar world and more democracy in international relations, and make our due contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world,” he added.
The meeting marked the first in nearly ten months and gained added significance amid tensions in India-US relations, triggered by Washington’s trade and tariff policies. Xi also highlighted global shifts, saying the world is undergoing “once-in-a-century transformations.”
“The international situation is both fluid and chaotic. China and India are two ancient civilisations in the East, the world’s most populous countries, and also the oldest members of the Global South,” he said.
The leaders’ discussion signals an emphasis on strengthened India-China cooperation, even as both nations navigate complex regional and global challenges.
