Relations between India, China ‘should not be seen through a third country lens’: PM Modi

India and China pursue “strategic autonomy” and “their relations should not be seen through a third country lens”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin. This was Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, Reuters reported.

The bilateral talks came against the backdrop of both India and China facing so-called reciprocal tariffs from the United States.

The Donald Trump administration had announced on August 6 that it would double the tariffs on goods imported from India to 50% for purchasing Russian oil amid the Ukraine war. A 25% so-called reciprocal tariff had already taken effect.

The doubled tariffs took effect on Wednesday.

On Sunday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that Modi and Xi welcomed the steady progress in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing. They also reiterated that differences between the two countries should not be allowed to escalate into disputes, the ministry added.

“The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then,” stated the ministry. “They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question.”

Modi and Xi also highlighted “the role of their two economies to stabilise...

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