PM Modi Raises Cross-Border Terrorism in Talks with Xi at SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought up the issue of cross-border terrorism during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.

“Cross-border terrorism was mentioned by the Prime Minister as a priority,” Misri told reporters in Tianjin, where Modi is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on his first visit to China in seven years. “He underlined that this affects both India and China, and that it is important we extend understanding and support to each other. We have received China’s cooperation on this issue.”

The leaders also discussed the long-running boundary dispute. Modi stressed the need for peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to ensure smooth development of bilateral relations. Misri noted that both sides acknowledged last year’s disengagement and agreed to maintain stability using existing mechanisms.

According to Misri, Modi and Xi agreed that India and China should see each other as “partners rather than rivals,” with a focus on domestic development goals. “The common interests of the two countries outweigh their differences,” he said, adding that both leaders agreed differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes.

“They shared the view that stable and amicable ties would benefit the 2.8 billion people of India and China, and that cooperation between the two is critical for an Asian century and a multipolar world order,” Misri said.