Xi Jinping, India’s Modi meet in Tianjin
China-India ties are on the up.
On Sunday, Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
- Modi last visited China seven years ago.
The leaders signaled that they are ready to move beyond damage control and toward practical economic cooperation:
- Xi called for the two countries to "focus on development as the greatest common denominator, calling for the partnership to resemble "a dance between a dragon and an elephant."
- India's readout emphasized a focus on expanding trade and investment, as well as rebalancing the trade deficit, stressing that differences “should not turn into disputes.“
ICYDK: The nod toward partnership indicates a notable change in tone since the two leaders' breakthrough meeting in October.
- Since then, the two sides stabilized their long-standing border dispute, paving the way for a major thaw.
Then there's this: The US just slapped a 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US.
- That's soured Washington-Delhi ties and sharpened the incentives for Beijing and Delhi to partner up.
Get smart: The Xi-Modi meeting was heavy on symbolism but light on deliverables.
- We're still waiting for the resumption of direct flights between the two countries – something that was touted during top diplomat Wang Yi's late-August trip to India.
Get smarter: Odds are that Xi will attend the BRICS summit in India next year.
- That will provide ample opportunities to keep the reset on track.