'Ties more substantial': PM Modi accepts Xi Jinping's invite; set to visit China for SCO Summit

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received an invitation for the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin from Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, who conveyed it on behalf of President Xi Jinping during their meeting at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

PM Modi accepted the invitation, thanked President Xi, and highlighted the importance of the summit.

Prime Minister Modi mentioned the steady and positive progress in India-China ties since his meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year.

PM Modi wrote on X after meeting Chinese FM Wang Yi: "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity."

Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO… pic.twitter.com/FyQI6GqYKC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 19, 2025

The meeting came in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs, including a 50 per cent duty on India.

Known for his frequent claims of brokering peace between long-time rivals, Trump may have inadvertently opened space for a thaw in India-China ties.

Despite Beijing’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack, the recent easing of tensions between New Delhi and Beijing is being viewed partly as a consequence of Trump’s moves, even though he has not claimed credit.

This will be Prime Minister Modi's first visit to China in seven years. His last trip was in June 2018 for the SCO Summit.

Here are the key points on ongoing efforts in India-China bilateral relations:

• PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to a fair and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue and underlined that stable and constructive relations between the two countries are vital for regional and global peace.

• PM welcomed steps such as the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since his last meeting with Jinping and expressed support for China's presidency of the SCO Summit.

• India and China held the 24th round of Special Representatives (SRs) talks on the boundary issue, where Wang Yi said that stable and healthy ties between the two countries are in the fundamental interests of both peoples.

• The Chinese foreign ministry said that Doval and Yi held "comprehensive, in-depth, and productive discussions" on the India-China border issue and broader bilateral relations.

• The NSA recalled his visit to Beijing in December for the previous round of SR talks and mentioned that ties have shown an "upward trend" since then. He said the borders have remained quiet, peace and tranquillity have prevailed, and bilateral engagements have become more substantial.
  
• The MEA said that external affairs minister Jaishankar’s meeting with Wang Yi covered bilateral, regional, and international matters of common interest.

• India strongly raised its concerns on terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, during the discussions.

• Jaishankar also conveyed India’s concerns regarding the construction of a mega dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river.

• An Expert Group will be set up under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs to explore an early harvest in boundary delimitation along the border areas.