India and China Further Improve Relations After Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have greatly improved relations between the two countries amid a major SCO summit.

Tensions between India and China have been relatively high in recent years, with several battles and standoffs near their shared borders. Due to these border disputes, India and China have maintained a cold relationship, with both sides attempting to side with the enemy of the other. China and Pakistan developed strong ties as China funded various projects to grow the Pakistani economy, and India stepped up relations with the United States.

However, after the onset of a staggering 50% tariff from the Trump administration, Modi and Jinping have turned to each other to grow their economies as their relationship with the US falters. Around two weeks ago, Modi met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, allowing them to further strengthen ties. Both countries agreed to resume direct flights, resume border trade, and relax rules on visas, helping each other move away from any dependency on the United States.

Now, Modi and Jinping are meeting in person to discuss the situation, with the Indian Prime Minister visiting China for the first time in seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. While improving relations will not be simple, they have both expressed their willingness to work towards a closer friendship in the future, which will require various steps and stages.

As for the financial aspect of their trade-related relations, India maintains a trade deficit of over $99 billion with China, making it unlikely for India to allow additional Chinese trade into their country without some sort of action from the East Asian country. Meanwhile, various tariffs and taxes are also in place within numerous sectors, further impacting their abilities to ensure free trade with each other.

Additionally, their geopolitical relations will also play a factor in repairing their relationship. China maintains strong ties with Pakistan, India's biggest adversary, and India is still involved in several organizations that work with the US and the rest of the Western world against China and Russia.

Nevertheless, right now, Modi and Jinping will continue discussions at the SCO Summit, which will last through the end of the day today. Among the other countries attending are Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, allowing India an ample opportunity to not just improve relations with China but with the rest of its non-Western trading partners who have been impacted by Trump's tariffs and sanctions– especially Russia.

Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The unique smell of rain actually comes from plant oils, bacteria, and ozone.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them. (Baron de Montesquie)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Simpatico (adj, sim-PAH-tih-koh) - Simpatico typically describes two or more people or things with shared qualities, interests, etc. It can also describe someone who is agreeable or likeable.

In a Sentence: Even though they weren’t always simpatico with regard to the direction of their company, the pair managed to be successful partners for more than 35 years.

Image credit to Reuters