Committed to take forward ties, says Modi; Xi urges Dragon, Elephant to come together

India is committed to taking forward its ties with China based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two leaders held wide-ranging talks on Sunday (August 31) to reset the bilateral relations.

President Xi reciprocated by saying it is crucial for India and China to be friends and “good neighbours”. It is important for the “Dragon and the Elephant to come together”, President Xi said.

“The world is going towards transformation. China and India are two of the most civilizational countries. We are the world’s two most populous countries and part of the Global South... It is vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and the Dragon and the Elephant to come together...,” Xi Jinping said.

Welfare of 2.8 billion people

In his televised opening remarks, Modi said the welfare of 2.8 billion people is linked to cooperation between India and China.

The prime minister noted that there are peace and stability along the border following last year’s disengagement process, adding that direct flights between the two countries are being resumed.

Xi Jinping, on the other hand, highlighted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic relations, saying that both nations need to handle relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective.

“We must also step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world,” Xi said.

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‘Committed to take forward cooperation’

Prime Minister Modi also mentioned the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

There was consent between our Special Representatives on border management, he said. India and China have a framework called the Special Representatives on the boundary question to address issues relating to the border.

“We are committed to take forward our cooperation based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” Modi said.

The prime minister also congratulated Xi on China’s successful presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Meeting after 10 months

This was PM Modi and Xi Jinping’s first meeting in about 10 months. The meeting assumes significance in view of a sudden downturn in India-US ties triggered by Washington’s policies on trade and tariffs.

Considering the scope of issues for discussion, news agency PTI cited official sources as indicating that they could meet again later in the day. The two leaders last met in October in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

Before leaving for India on Monday, Modi is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Also read: SCO Summit | India’s balancing act: US tariffs, Russia oil, China support

Banquet today

The SCO summit will begin with an official banquet hosted by Xi on Sunday.

Twenty foreign leaders are attending the SCO Plus summit being organised by China, which is this year’s rotating chair of the 10-member bloc comprising Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also taking part in the summit. Leaders who have arrived in Tianjin include Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

Nepal’s claim

Already, during a bilateral meeting with Xi on Saturday, Oli raised an objection to an agreement reached between India and China to use Lipulekh as a trade route, according to his secretariat.

Nepal claims Lipulekh as its own territory, a claim that India has categorically rejected as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”.

“Nepal believes that China will cooperate with Nepal in this regard,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in the statement. However, China has been silent on Oli’s contentious objections.

An official statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry made no reference to the issue.

Also read: Is India ceding space to China in conflict-hit Myanmar? | Subir Bhaumik speaks

Military parade in the offing

The leaders’ summit will be held on Monday. This summit, the largest so far by the SCO, will be one of the most important head-of-state and home-ground diplomacy events in China this year, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin had said earlier.

In his keynote speech at the summit, Xi will elaborate on China’s new vision and propositions for the SCO in carrying forward the “Shanghai Spirit”, shouldering the mission of the times and responding to people’s expectations, he said.

Most of the leaders are expected to stay beyond the two-day summit to witness China’s largest military parade to be held in Beijing on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

(With agency inputs)