PM Modi and Xi discuss all aspects of enriching bilateral relations between India and China, recognise the positive role of strategic communication in deepening the partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek and discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral relations.
This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Mr. Modi’s re-election following the stunning victory of the BJP in the general elections last month.
“Deepening friendship with China. PM @narendramodi’s first meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit is with President Xi Jinping. Both leaders are discussing ways to further strengthen bilateral relations,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
Ahead of the meeting, China hinted that President Xi would highlight the need to forge a united front against U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies of trade protectionism and unilateralism using tariffs as a weapon.
China and the U.S. have been in an escalating conflict over trade for the past year. The scope of the battle has expanded in recent months as Washington has tightened trade restrictions on Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
Chinese officials hope that India, which is also facing trade frictions with the U.S. specially over termination of its designation as a ‘beneficiary developing country’ under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), would join the fight against Mr. Trump’s protectionist policies.
PM Modi met Chinese Prez Xi Jinping on the sidelines of SCO summit 2019
