China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals, and that the two countries are each other's development opportunities rather than threats.

As long as the two countries stick to this overarching direction, China-India relations can sustain steady and long-term growth, Xi said when the two leaders met in the port city of Tianjin ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, which is running from Sunday to Monday.

Xi extended a warm welcome to Modi for the Tianjin summit and said China and India should become neighbors on good terms and partners helping each other succeed.

"China and India are two major ancient civilizations of the East, the two most populous countries in the world, and important members of the Global South, which shoulder the crucial responsibility of improving the well-being of our two peoples, promoting the solidarity and rejuvenation of developing countries, and advancing the progress of human society. It should be the right choice for China and India to be good-neighborly friends and partners that help each other succeed, and have the dragon and the elephant dance together," Xi said.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-India diplomatic relations, Xi called on both countries to shoulder their shared responsibilities.

"The two sides should view and handle the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective, and work for its sustained, sound and steady development. We should step up to shoulder our responsibility for history, uphold multilateralism, work together for a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations, and make due contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and the wider world," he said.

For his part, Modi said that his meeting with President Xi at the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan last October had set out the development direction of India-China relations, adding that the relationship is back on a positive trajectory, peace and stability in the border regions have been maintained, and direct flights are about to be resumed.

Such progress benefits not only the people of India and China, but also the whole world, he added.

Noting that India and China are partners, not rivals, and consensus far outweighs disagreement, Modi said that India is ready to view and develop the bilateral ties from a long-term perspective.

"Last year, we had very positive talks in Kazan that pointed the direction for the development of our relations. Our cooperation is closely linked to the interests of our 2.8 billion people and also the global development. We are committed to advancing our bilateral relations based on mutual trust, respect, and consideration," Modi told Xi.

China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals: Xi

The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.

The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.

When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.

Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.

"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.

Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.

During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.

"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.

"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.

After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.

The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident