Our Strong Friendship is the Right Choice: Modi-Xi Meeting at SCO Summit Signals a New Chapter

On August 31, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, suggesting a new and positive turn in India-China relations. This meeting comes at a time when India is under increasing pressure from the United States regarding oil imports from Russia and rising tariffs.

According to the New York Times, China used the SCO platform to deliver a global message that the United States is no longer the sole decision-maker in international matters. Amid the U.S. tariff war initiated by former President Donald Trump, India and China have grown closer, while both countries have already maintained stable relations with Russia.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China for the SCO Summit proved to be highly significant. In the historic city of Tianjin, the conversation between Modi and Xi was notably positive. Many countries across the world are viewing this meeting through a highly optimistic lens.

Following the leaders' dialogue, international media coverage has highlighted the importance of their engagement, potentially causing discomfort in Washington. Outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and the BBC have described this renewed closeness between India and China as strategically vital in the current geopolitical landscape.

CNN reported, “The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin is being seen as a turning point in their bilateral relationship after seven years. Xi emphasized that India and China should be partners and friends, not rivals, while Modi committed to advancing relations based on mutual trust and respect.”