Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) described the bilateral relationship between India and China as facing an “important opportunity”, striking a conciliatory tone at the 24th meeting of the Special Representatives on the boundary question. He acknowledged that the “setbacks” of the recent past, including tensions following the 2020 Galwan clashes, had not served the interests of the people in either country.

In a reciprocal gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced later in the day that he has accepted President Xi Jinping’s invitation to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Modi emphasized that “stable, predictable and constructive ties” between New Delhi and Beijing are essential not only for bilateral relations but also for ensuring “global peace and prosperity.”

The developments signal a possible thaw in relations between the two Asian powers, which have faced years of strain over border disputes and regional rivalry. The upcoming Modi–Xi meeting in Tianjin is being closely watched as a platform to reset engagement and explore new areas of cooperation.