India–China Breakthrough at SCO Summit 2025: Modi Tells Xi “Partners, Not Rivals”
At the SCO Summit 2025, PM Modi assured Xi Jinping that India seeks partnership, not rivalry, with China—signaling a new era of cooperation.
Raja Awais Ali
8/31/20252 min read
SCO Summit 2025: Modi Tells Xi India and China Are Partners, Not Rivals
On 31 August 2025, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a significant meeting that may reshape regional dynamics. Modi assured Xi that India is committed to improving ties with China, emphasizing that the two nations should be seen as “partners in development, not rivals.”
This meeting came after years of strained relations, particularly following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which deeply affected bilateral trust. Both leaders acknowledged that the new border management agreement has helped ease tensions and agreed that border disputes should not overshadow broader cooperation. Modi stressed that maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is essential for progress in bilateral ties.
Economic cooperation was at the heart of the discussions. Modi called for removing trade barriers, easing customs processes, and expanding visa facilitation for students and business professionals. Both sides also agreed to resume direct flights soon to strengthen people-to-people connectivity. Additionally, Modi invited Xi to attend the BRICS Summit 2026 in India, an invitation Xi accepted, acknowledging India’s role as a “key regional balancer.”
The two leaders agreed to work more closely in global trade forums and underscored their commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy despite growing Western pressure and Donald Trump’s revived economic nationalism.
President Xi remarked that India–China relations are vital for “Asia’s prosperity and global stability.” Using a metaphor, he said, “When the dragon and the elephant walk together, the world takes notice.”
Challenges remain, including India’s $99.2 billion trade deficit with China, Beijing’s close ties with Pakistan, and ongoing infrastructure projects in disputed areas. Still, the overall tone of the meeting was constructive. Both sides agreed to expand cultural exchanges, tourism, and academic partnerships as a way to build trust.
The SCO Summit 2025 meeting between Modi and Xi marks a turning point. If both countries follow through on their commitments, their relationship could shift from rivalry toward cautious cooperation, potentially reshaping not just bilateral ties but also the strategic balance of Asia.