Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday 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 during a meeting with Modi in the port city of Tianjin ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025.

As two major ancient civilizations of the East and the two most populous countries in the world, China and India are important members of the Global South, and shoulder the crucial responsibility of improving the well-being of the two peoples, promoting the solidarity and rejuvenation of developing countries, and advancing the progress of human society, Xi said.

Xi said China and India should become neighbors on good terms and partners helping each other succeed. A "cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant" should be the right choice for the two countries, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-India diplomatic relations, Xi said the two countries need to view and handle bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, and work for sustained, sound and steady development of bilateral ties.

He called on the two countries to strengthen strategic communication to deepen mutual trust, expand exchanges and win-win cooperation, heed each other's concerns to seek harmonious coexistence, and enhance multilateral collaboration to safeguard common interests.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence initiated by the older generation of Chinese and Indian leaders over 70 years ago need to be cherished and upheld, Xi said, calling on the two Asian neighbors to work together to ensure peace and tranquility in their border regions, and should not let the boundary question define the overall China-India relations.

The Chinese president also urged efforts to strengthen multilateral coordination to safeguard shared interests, calling on both sides to uphold multilateralism, strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, defend international fairness and justice, and work together for a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.

For his part, Modi said India and China are partners, not rivals, adding that the consensus far outweighs the disagreement.

India is ready to view and develop bilateral ties from a long-term perspective, he said, adding that given the uncertainties in the world economy, it is vital for India and China to strengthen cooperation as important economies of the world.

India is prepared to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question with China, Modi said.

Both India and China pursue strategic autonomy and an independent foreign policy, and the bilateral relationship is not subject to the influence of any third party, he said, adding that the two sides joining hands will increase the strength of multilateralism in international affairs.

(With input from Xinhua)