Chinese President, Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister , Narendra Modi have taken a significant step towards strengthening partnership arrangements as both agreed to see each other as “partners, not rivals”.
This development comes after years of tension, including a long-running border dispute. During their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, the two leaders discussed ways to improve bilateral relations.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the announcement that flights between India and China, which were suspended in 2020 due to deadly troop clashes on their shared Himalayan border, would resume. Although no timeline was provided, this move is seen as a positive step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
Xi emphasized the need for both countries to approach their relationship from a “strategic height and long-term perspective”, stating that being friends is the “right choice”. The leaders also discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment ties, reducing the trade deficit, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
However, the relationship between India and China is not without its challenges. The US-India relationship faces headwinds due to the US imposing steep tariffs on Indian goods, partly because of India’s purchase of Russian oil. Additionally, the long-standing border dispute remains a challenge, although both leaders expressed commitment to maintaining peace and stability along the border.
The partnership between China and India, the world’s two most populous countries and biggest economies, could have significant implications for global trade and geopolitics. The SCO summit, attended by over 20 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, provides a platform for leaders to discuss common grievances and shared interests.
This meeting marks a significant step in India-China relations, with both countries seeking to strengthen their partnership and cooperation. As the world’s attention focuses on the SCO summit, it remains to be seen how this new partnership will shape the future of global politics and trade.
