Chinese President Xi Jinping met Indian PM Narendra Modi in Tianjin on Sunday, when he said the two neighbours are each other's development partners rather than threats, a meeting marking an improvement in ties between the nations against the backdrop of US tariffs.

Modi arrived in China after seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They should become good-neighbourly friends and partners who help each other succeed. A 'cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant' should be the right choice for the two countries, Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The two Asian neighbours should combine their strength to maintain peace and tranquillity in their border regions, and should not allow the boundary question to define the overall China-India relations, Xi said.

The relationship between the world's two most populous nations had deteriorated following the 2020 border clashes in Galwan.

Before leaving for India on Monday, PM Modi is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the meeting, PM Modi also said an "atmosphere of peace and stability" has been created after the disengagement on the border.

"Last year in Kazan, we had very fruitful discussions, which gave a positive direction to our relations. After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created," he said.

PM Modi also spoke about the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights between the two countries.

"The interests of 2.8 billion people of both countries are linked to our cooperation. This will also pave the way for the welfare of the entire humanity," he said.

This is PM Modi's first visit to China in seven years and comes amid the India-US rift over Donald Trump's tariff announcement.

In Tianjin, PM Modi was accorded a warm welcome at the airport and even by the Indian community.

SCO Meeting amid Trump tariff imposition

Twenty foreign leaders are attending the SCO summit being organised by China.

The 10-member bloc comprises Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and China.

The SCO Summit is also taking place as India navigates global economic and geopolitical turbulence over Russia's war on Ukraine, Israel's war on Gaza, and the United States' 50 percent tariff on Indian goods exported to that country.