Thaw in India-China ties? PM Modi, Xi Jinping interact, shake hands on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan
PM Modi and Xi Jinping interact at the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, signalling a thaw in India-China ties ahead of the New Delhi BRICS Summit, following Ajit Doval's boundary talks with Wang Yi and Han Zheng in Beijing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, interacted with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday (local time).
While it remains unclear what the two leaders discussed, a video of their interaction was posted on social media, signalling a thaw in relations between the two countries.
Quick answers to key questions
The handshake between PM Modi and Xi Jinping at the SCO Summit signifies a potential thaw in India-China relations, representing a moment of personal diplomacy between the leaders.
PM Modi invited Xi Jinping to the BRICS Summit to foster cooperation and support between the two countries, highlighting India's presidency of BRICS as an opportunity for closer ties.
Since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, India and China have taken measures to improve their relations, including interactions at key international summits like the SCO.
Multilateral forums like SCO and BRICS provide platforms for India and China to engage and deepen cooperation on shared interests, reflecting a commitment to resolving differences.
Yes, continued engagement at international summits is crucial for India and China to improve bilateral ties, as it allows for direct interactions to address differences and pursue common interests.
PM Modi, Xi Jinping display bonhomie
Before the two leaders joined others for a family photograph at the 26th SCO Summit, PM Modi and Xi Jinping were seen shaking hands, marking a rare moment of personal diplomacy between the two neighbours. As cameras focused on Bishkek’s Yrys Ordo Congress Hall, Russian President Vladimir Putin also joined the interaction between Modi and Xi.
According to news agency ANI, the development comes months after PM Modi invited Xi Jinping to attend the BRICS Summit that India will host later this month. Offering Beijing's support to New Delhi's BRICS presidency, Xi thanked PM Modi for the invitation.
Meanwhile, CGTN journalist Zhao Yunfei said on Tuesday that India and China should make greater use of multilateral forums such as the SCO and BRICS to deepen engagement and advance their shared interests.
He spoke about India-China ties and the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, adding that the two multilateral platforms could provide opportunities for the leaders of both countries to meet and engage.
Zhao said, “I think it has created multiple occasions for the two presidents to get a chance to meet. This would be really good for the relationship between China and India because we are neighbouring countries. China has always attached importance to its neighbours because we are neighbours, and then we have to settle all the differences as well as pursue the common ground altogether to pursue the common wealth of the people in the region.”
Thaw in India-China ties?
The interaction between the two leaders comes days after India's National Security Advisor (NSA) and Special Representative for the India-China Boundary Question, Ajit Doval, visited China to attend the Special Representatives' talks on the India-China boundary issue with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Doval, who was in Beijing on 24 and 25 August, also met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. In a social media post, the Indian Embassy said Doval and Han exchanged views on maintaining peace and stability along the border and deepening bilateral ties across economic, political and multilateral spheres. The talks followed the understanding reached between the leaders of India and China.
Relations between New Delhi and Beijing were strained after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. However, since then, both sides have taken measures to improve their relations. In an effort to ease tensions, PM Modi and Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of key international summits, including the SCO Summit in 2025 in Tianjin. Before that, they met in 2024 on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazan, where they reaffirmed that India and China were development partners rather than rivals.
(with agency inputs)
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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