Modi To China – Differences Must Not Turn Into Disputes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, during the final leg of his two-nation visit. After visiting Japan, he headed to China hosting the SCO Summit. Addressing the Summit, Modi termed terrorism as a huge challenge for humanity and said that terrorism, in all its forms, should be condemned. He called for shunning double standards in combating terrorism. On Pahalgam attack, Modi said that the attack was not only an assault on India’s conscience but was also an open challenge to every nation that believes in humanity.

Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that India and China and development partners, not rivals. They felt that differences should not escalate into disputes.

Delivering his statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Tianjin, Modi said that India has been dealing with terrorism for the last four decades. He said that India has played a very positive role as a member of the SCO. India’s vision and policy for the SCO is based on three important pillars– Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.

At the Summit, India and China recognized the role of both the countries in stabilizing global trade amid US tariffs and discussed expanding bilateral trade, investment and reducing the trade deficit. “A stable relationship and cooperation between India and China and their 2.8 billion people on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity are necessary for the growth and development of the two countries, as well as for a multipolar world and a multi-polar Asia befitting the trends of the 21st century,” the MEA said in an official statement.

Modi and Jinping noted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa. During the talks in SCO, Modi expressed support for China’s presidency of the SCO and the Summit in Tianjin. He also invited Xi to the BRICS Summit that India will be hosting in 2026. Modi’s visit to China came after a gap of seven years.

Before his departure, Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and conveyed to him that ending the Ukraine war as soon as possible is humanity’s call.

Modi and Putin also held a meeting and discussed bilateral cooperation in financial, energy and economic sectors.