What Did Xi Jinping Tell Modi About China-India Relations at the SCO Summit?

At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of friendship between China and India during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted the need for both nations to collaborate for mutual success and to approach their relationship with a long-term strategic perspective. Xi's remarks also included a call for multilateralism and a multipolar world, reflecting the current global dynamics. This meeting, their first in ten months, comes at a time of shifting international relations, particularly concerning India-US ties. Read on to explore the details of their discussions and the implications for future cooperation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 31, 2025, 13:05 IST

Xi Jinping Advocates Friendship with India

Tianjin: During a recent meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that fostering a friendship between their nations is the 'right choice.' He emphasized the importance of collaboration, suggesting that the 'elephant and dragon' should work together for mutual success.

These discussions occurred at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where Xi highlighted the shared responsibility of both nations to enhance the welfare of their citizens and support the development of other emerging countries.

Xi remarked, 'It is essential for us to be friends with strong neighborly ties, acting as partners that facilitate each other's success, allowing the dragon and elephant to dance together.'

He urged both countries to adopt a strategic and long-term view in their relationship, stating, 'We must manage our ties from a strategic perspective to ensure sustainable and steady growth in our bilateral relations.'

According to reports from China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi characterized India and China as partners in cooperation rather than rivals, viewing each other as opportunities for development instead of threats.

In a subtle reference to US President Donald Trump's unilateral policies, he called for both nations to champion multilateralism.

Xi also advocated for a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations, asserting, 'We must enhance our historical duty to support multilateralism and collaborate to foster a multipolar world, contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and globally.'

This meeting marked their first interaction in nearly ten months and was particularly significant given the recent decline in India-US relations due to Washington's trade and tariff policies.

Xi noted that the world is experiencing unprecedented transformations, stating, 'The international landscape is both dynamic and tumultuous. As two ancient civilizations and the most populous nations, we are also among the oldest members of the Global South.'