Overview

• During a roughly 40‑minute bilateral on the SCO sidelines in Tianjin, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping signaled a cautious reset after years of strain following the 2020 border clashes.
• Modi said ties would advance on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity, noting that cooperation serves the interests of 2.8 billion people in both countries.
• New Delhi reported agreement between the Special Representatives on managing the frontier, while specific terms were not disclosed.
• Practical normalization steps include the resumption of direct flights and the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, alongside earlier moves to reopen border trade.
• Both sides framed the relationship as development partnerships rather than rivalry, with Xi urging closer cooperation and India’s MEA highlighting sustained peace and stability along the border since last year’s disengagement.