‘Dragon and Elephant Must Walk Together’: Xi to Modi at SCO Summit

His remarks came during delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China.

Xi’s Message

Xi highlighted the civilizational and demographic weight of both countries, saying, “The world is going through transformation. China and India are two of the most civilizational countries, the world’s two most populous nations, and part of the Global South. It is vital to be friends, good neighbours, and for the Dragon and the Elephant to come together.”

Marking the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic relations, Xi urged both sides to approach ties from a “strategic and long-term perspective.” He also underlined the need for cooperation in strengthening multilateralism, building a multipolar world, and democratizing global institutions, while jointly promoting peace and prosperity across Asia and beyond.

Modi’s Response

Prime Minister Modi, in his televised opening remarks, said India is committed to advancing its ties with China based on “mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.” He stressed that the welfare of nearly 2.8 billion people depends on constructive cooperation between the two neighbours.

Modi noted that peace and stability have been maintained along the border following last year’s disengagement process and welcomed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries. He also pointed to the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as a positive step.

Context

This is Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, a period marked by strained ties following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which resulted in casualties on both sides.

It has been almost a year since Modi and Xi last met in October 2024, after which India and China announced a breakthrough in talks aimed at resolving the military standoff at the border.