August 31, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a lively chat on Sunday in Tianjin, China, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. This was Modi's first visit to China in seven years and comes at a crucial moment when India and China want to fix their tensed relationship after the tough border fight in eastern Ladakh. The last major trouble was the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which left many wounds between the two neighbours. Now, both leaders are keen to talk about how they can work better together, especially on trade and economic cooperation. India wants China to provide fair trade deals and keep supplying important products like rare earths, fertilisers, and industrial machines. Beyond business, they also plan to make travel easier by restarting direct flights and simplifying visa rules. Plus, a big celebration marking 75 years of diplomatic relations is on the cards, adding a sweet touch to the talks. The mood of the meeting also felt the heat of global politics. With the US and India dealing with trade tensions due to the Trump administration's tariffs, this India-China dialogue has extra layers of importance. Earlier, Xi Jinping had sent a 'secret' letter to Modi expressing concerns about US deals that might hurt China’s interests—a political message showing how delicate these relations are. Before leaving for China, Modi told Japan's The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, "Given the current volatility in world economy, it is also important for India and China, as two major economies, to work together to bring stability to the world economic order." This quote sparks hope that both countries will try their best to keep global peace and progress. Just weeks before Modi's visit, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited New Delhi and met India’s top leaders, announcing positive steps like reopening border trade and restoring flights. This shows that both sides want a "stable, cooperative and forward-looking" relationship. As Modi and Xi sit down to talk, everyone is eager to see if their chat will turn the page to a new chapter of trust and friendship. Can this meeting be the beginning of a fresh start? Only time will tell, but the buzz is definitely exciting!

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Tags: Modi, Xi jinping, Sco summit, India-china relations, Trade tensions, Galwan valley clash,