Tianjin, China : Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to reset their often strained ties, declaring that the two Asian giants should be “partners, not rivals.” The remarks came during a high-profile meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the northern port city of Tianjin.
The encounter marked Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, following a period of border clashes and diplomatic tension between the two neighbors.
Xi and Modi Signal a New Chapter
President Xi told Modi that Beijing and New Delhi must approach their relationship from a “strategic height and long-term perspective,” emphasizing that friendship is “the right choice for both sides.” Modi, in turn, highlighted what he described as an “atmosphere of peace and stability” and announced that commercial flights between the two countries—suspended since deadly Himalayan border clashes in 2020—would soon resume, though no specific date was given.
The move is seen as an effort to ease friction in one of Asia’s most sensitive geopolitical fault lines.
Broader Geopolitical Context
The summit comes at a time of shifting alliances. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed heavy tariffs on Indian goods in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, straining U.S.-India relations. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, also present at the SCO summit, faces renewed sanctions threats over his ongoing war in Ukraine.
With India facing trade headwinds from Washington, Modi’s meeting with Xi signals a tilt toward closer engagement with Beijing. The two countries, home to the world’s largest populations and two of its biggest economies, play an outsized role in shaping the global balance of power.
SCO Summit: Symbolism and Spectacle
Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations as a counterweight to NATO, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation now counts 10 full members, including Russia, Pakistan, and Iran, alongside 16 dialogue partners and observers. This year’s summit in Tianjin is the largest since its inception.
While the SCO is often described as largely symbolic, it provides leaders a platform to air shared grievances against Western-led institutions and to reinforce regional partnerships.
In Tianjin, the summit has transformed the city into a festival-like stage. Billboards and banners promoting the gathering line the streets, while tens of thousands of residents flock nightly to riverside lightshows illuminating tower blocks.
Tight Security and Local Disruption
Security has been intense. Major roads have been periodically blocked to make way for leaders’ motorcades, while taxis and ride-hailing services were suspended across downtown Tianjin. The historic Jiefang Bridge and nearby areas have seen crushing crowds as people gather to glimpse the visiting dignitaries.
Police have urged the city’s 13 million residents to limit movement and purchase essentials locally to avoid congestion. Despite the restrictions, local enthusiasm for the summit remains high, with many describing it as a “historic moment” for the city.
