Improving relations between Asian adversaries, India and China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, marking his first visit to China in seven years and his first since the deadly 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops along their disputed Himalayan frontier.
The meeting will take place during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, alongside other members including Russia and Iran. This encounter follows their first formal talks in five years at a BRICS summit in Russia in October 2024, where they agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation.
Tensions between the two nations, which share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border that has been contested since the 1950s, have been easing over the past few years. In August 2023, Modi and Xi met in Johannesburg at the BRICS summit and agreed to step up efforts to disengage and reduce tensions.
In July 2025, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited China for the first time in five years, urging both countries to resolve border friction, withdraw troops, and avoid restrictive trade practices. Reuters reports India is considering easing restrictions on Chinese investments.
Signs of diplomatic progress have continued. In April 2025, a Chinese embassy spokesperson called for India and China to unite in facing U.S. tariffs. In January 2025, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in China, and both sides agreed to restart direct air links and work on trade and economic differences.
As of September 2024, about 75% of disengagement issues along the border have been resolved, according to Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Minor clashes broke out in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh between the two countries in December 2022, a region that Beijing claims as part of southern Tibet.
During a visit to New Delhi in August 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang told his Indian counterpart that the two nations should develop a "correct strategic understanding" and treat one another as partners. Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong stated in August 2025 that China opposes U.S. tariffs on India and will "firmly stand with India".
The upcoming meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, offers an opportunity for both leaders to discuss ongoing border disputes, economic relations, and regional cooperation. The resumption of direct flights between India and China, as reported by India's aviation minister, may also be on the agenda.
