In a significant diplomatic exchange, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India and China should embrace friendship and cooperation, describing it as the "right choice" for both nations. Speaking on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Xi emphasized the need for a strategic and long-term approach to bilateral ties to ensure their sustained and stable development.

"India and China are not rivals but partners in progress," Xi stated, as reported by China's state-run Xinhua news agency. He highlighted the symbolic imagery of the "dragon and elephant dancing together," underscoring that both countries should enable each other's success. The remarks come amid a backdrop of strained India-US relations, triggered by Washington's aggressive trade and tariff policies under President Donald Trump.

Xi also called for both nations to uphold multilateralism and promote a multipolar world with greater democracy in international relations. "As ancient civilizations and the world's most populous countries, we bear the historic responsibility of fostering peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond," he told Modi. The leaders discussed their shared role as key members of the Global South, navigating a world undergoing "once-in-a-century transformations" marked by global volatility.

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This meeting, the first between Xi and Modi in ten months, gains added significance given the recent downturn in India-US ties. Experts suggest that Xi's outreach signals China's intent to strengthen ties with India to counterbalance Western unilateralism. The talks reflect a mutual interest in fostering cooperation, with both leaders acknowledging the importance of their nations' roles in shaping a multipolar global order.

As India and China navigate complex global dynamics, Xi's call for friendship and strategic partnership sets the stage for deeper collaboration, potentially reshaping regional and global alliances in the coming years.

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