View the complete statement regarding PM Modi and President Xi’s bilateral meeting in Tianjin.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the fringes of the SCO Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Saturday outlining the specifics of the bilateral discussions. The ministry said both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to becoming developmental partners rather than rivals, and it praised a number of constructive actions done to maintain peace along the border and improve people-to-people and cultural links.

Additionally, Prime Minister Modi invited President Xi to India, which will host the 2026 Brics Summit. Both parties emphasized exercising strategic autonomy and making sure that their relationship is not seen through the prism of any third country, while India concentrated on expanding bilateral trade in a way that fixes the trade deficit in favor of New Delhi.

COMPLETE MEA STATEMENT TEXT

1. On the fringes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ summit in Tianjin on August 31, 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of china.

2. Since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024, both presidents have praised the positive momentum and consistent advancement in bilateral ties. They reiterated that their disagreements should not become confrontations and that the two nations were development partners rather than adversaries. For the two nations to grow and develop, as well as for a multipolar world and a multi-polar Asia that fits the trends of the twenty-first century, a stable relationship and cooperation between China and India and their respective 2.8 billion peoples based on mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity are essential.

3. The prime minister emphasized how crucial border areas’ peace and quiet are to the ongoing growth of bilateral ties. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then. They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognised the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their Talks earlier this month, and agreed to further support their efforts.

4. Building on the reopening of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa, the two leaders acknowledged the need to improve people-to-people relations by facilitating direct flights and visas. Regarding trade and economic connections, they acknowledged that their two economies played a crucial role in stabilizing global trade. They underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce trade deficit. 5. Prime Minister noted that India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country lens. The two leaders deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms.

6. The Prime Minister endorsed the Tianjin Summit and China’s SCO Presidency. Additionally, he extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the BRICS Summit, which India will host in 2026. President Xi pledged China’s support for India’s Brics Presidency and thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation.

7. The Prime Minister also met with Mr. Cai Qi, a member of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo Standing Committee. The prime minister presented Mr. Cai with his vision for the two leaders’ bilateral relationship and asked for his help in making it a reality. Mr. Cai reiterated the Chinese side’s desire to expand bilateral exchanges and further improve relations in line with the consensus reached between the two leaders.

ACTION SUGGESTIONS

1. Support Special Representatives’ Efforts: After making significant decisions earlier in August 2025, both leaders decided to provide more support to the Special Representatives’ efforts to settle the boundary dispute. 2. Strengthen People-to-People Ties: To build on the return of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa, improve direct flights and visa convenience. 3. Increase Bilateral Trade and Investment: To decrease the trade deficit and increase trade and investment relations, move forward in a political and strategic manner. 4. Expand Common Ground: Increase cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global issues, including terrorism and fair trade, in multilateral platforms. 5. Support for SCO and Brics: India expressed support for China’s SCO Presidency in 2025, and China offered support for India’s Brics Presidency in 2026. 6. Engage with Chinese Leadership: Prime Minister Modi sought 2. Strengthen People-to-People Ties: To build on the return of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa, improve direct flights and visa convenience. 3. Increase Bilateral Trade and Investment: To decrease the trade deficit and increase trade and investment relations, move forward in a political and strategic manner. 4. Expand Common Ground: Increase cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global issues, including terrorism and fair trade, in multilateral platforms. 5. Support for SCO and Brics: India expressed support for China’s SCO Presidency in 2025, and China offered support for India’s Brics Presidency in 2026.

ESSENTIAL DECISIONS

1. Commitment to Peaceful Borders: Both leaders reiterated their dedication to preserving border peace and serenity as well as seeking a just, rational, and amicable solution to the boundary dispute. 2. Development Partners, Not adversaries: It was reiterated that China and India are development partners rather than adversaries and that disagreements between them shouldn’t turn into arguments. 3. Stable partnership for Multipolar World: It was acknowledged that both India and China’s development and the multipolar world/Asia depend on a stable partnership built on mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity. 4. Strategic Autonomy: Highlighted their quest for strategic autonomy and emphasized that India-China ties shouldn’t be seen through the prism of a third country. 5. Brics Summit Invitation: Prime Minister Modi invited President Xi to the Brics Summit in India in 2026, with President Xi accepting and offering support.