Alexandar Sullivan:
In a meeting loaded with diplomatic symbolism and economic urgency, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Sunday, calling for a reset in bilateral ties as both leaders reel from aggressive U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump.
The meeting marks the first in-person conversation between Xi and Modi in seven years, reflecting a pragmatic shift as both nations face mounting economic pressure from Washington. Trump’s latest tariffs—doubling duties on Indian exports like diamonds and seafood to 50%—are seen as punishment for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
China, meanwhile, is contending with its own wave of U.S. economic penalties, aimed at curbing Beijing’s trade influence.
“The world today is chaotic,” Xi said. “It is the right choice for both sides to be friends.” Modi echoed that sentiment, emphasizing cooperation based on “mutual trust and respect,” while referencing progress on de-escalating the Himalayan border dispute.
While concrete agreements remain unclear, observers say the timing is critical. The tariffs have fueled Indian anxiety over ties with the U.S., prompting New Delhi to rediscover strategic value in closer economic dialogue with Beijing.
Analysts argue the warming ties reflect a broader multipolar push, with China and India signaling independence from Western-dominated trade systems.
For Washington, the Xi-Modi summit may complicate years of diplomatic investment in India as a counterweight to China. Meanwhile, Beijing welcomes the optics of solidarity with a fellow Global South powerhouse amid tariff tensions.
Though many hurdles remain, the meeting suggests a cautious shift—one where shared economic pain may forge unlikely cooperation.
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