Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged views on enhancing and balancing bilateral trade during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Sunday.
Briefing the media, Misri stated that both leaders discussed strengthening people-to-people ties, cooperation on trans-border rivers, and joint efforts to combat terrorism. “There was a desire to make additional progress on all of these issues on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interests, and mutual sensitivity,” he said.
On economic relations, the two leaders acknowledged the crucial role of India and China in stabilising global trade. They underlined the need to reduce the bilateral trade deficit, improve transparency in policies, and facilitate investment flows in both directions.
President Xi put forward four proposals to further upgrade ties: strengthening strategic communication and mutual trust, expanding cooperation for mutual benefit, addressing each other’s core concerns, and deepening multilateral cooperation to safeguard shared interests. Prime Minister Modi responded positively to all four suggestions, Misri confirmed.
The boundary issue was also raised. Both leaders noted last year’s successful disengagement and the subsequent peace in border regions. Prime Minister Modi stressed that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the overall progress of bilateral ties. They agreed to continue using existing mechanisms to maintain stability and avoid disruptions in the relationship.
According to Misri, the two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” resolution of the boundary question, guided by the broader perspective of long-term bilateral relations and the interests of both peoples.
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Prime Minister Modi also interacted with several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and highlighted India’s readiness to expand cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, energy, and culture. At the reception hosted by President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan, PM Modi joined leaders from across Asia and Eurasia for the customary family photograph.
The official programme of the SCO Summit begins on September 1, with PM Modi scheduled to address the plenary session and hold a bilateral meeting with President Putin.
