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PM Modi and Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of SCO Summit in China, during which the Prime Minister stressed on strategic autonomy of both countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a crucial bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin on Sunday, where the two leaders hailed the improvement in ties in recent months and spoke in detail about their perspectives on how to take the relations forward.

While the Prime Minister stressed on the “strategic autonomy" of both India and China, the Chinese President called upon New Delhi to work together to promote a “multipolar world".

PM Modi told Xi during the meeting that India-China ties should not be seen through the lens of a third country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

In turn, the Chinese President pinpointed the need for the two neighbours to come together and be friends.

What Was India’s Message To China?

While the two leaders at the table expressed satisfaction over the successful disengagement at the border last year and the subsequent peace and tranquility along the border areas since then, they also expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests, MEA said.

“Prime Minister noted that India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country lens. The two leaders deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms," the MEA statement said.

Taking to X, PM Modi said that the two leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace in the border areas and they reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation “based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity".

Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2025

What Was China’s Message To India?

Xi called upon PM Modi to work together to uphold multilateralism and work for the democratisation of relations among countries – in yet another message to the US, which is targeting the BRICS nations for their de-dollarisation push. India, being a part of this grouping, however, has not joined the echo and maintained its stance against any de-dollarisation in trade.

“We must jointly demonstrate historical responsibility, uphold multilateralism, strengthen communication and cooperation on major international and regional issues, defend international fairness and justice, work together to promote a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations, and make due contributions to maintaining peace and prosperity in Asia and the world," the Chinese statement said.

Earlier in the day, Xi said it is “vital" for both countries to be good neighbours and proposed that both nations should “come together" in the transforming world.

“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 said during the bilateral meeting with PM Modi.

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First Published:

August 31, 2025, 15:00 IST

News world PM Modi Stresses Strategic Autonomy, Tells Xi Ties Shouldn't Be Seen Through Third-Country Lens

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