China's Xi Jinping Says ‘Dragon and Elephant Must Come Together’ In Meeting With Indian PM Modi
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said it was vital for China and India, described as the “dragon and the elephant,” to come together at a time when the world is undergoing profound transformation.
Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Xi said the two countries, as the world’s most populous and most civilizational nations, were key members of the Global South and must act as friends and good neighbours.
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| Image Source: PM NaMo |
He added that Beijing and New Delhi “must step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions, and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in China on Saturday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, his first visit to the country in seven years.
Ties between the two neighbours had sharply deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
The two leaders last met in October 2024, after which India and China announced a breakthrough in negotiations to resolve their military standoff.
In his opening remarks during the bilateral meeting, Modi said India was committed to advancing ties with China on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.
He said the welfare of 2.8 billion people was linked to bilateral cooperation, noting that peace and stability had been maintained along the border since last year’s disengagement process.
Modi also welcomed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries and the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.