TIANJIN: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, met his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sunday.

The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties, with Modi describing relations between India and Nepal as “deep-rooted and very special” in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Modi wrote: “Delighted to meet Nepal PM Mr. KP Oli in Tianjin. India’s relations with Nepal are deep-rooted and very special.”

The meeting comes at a time when both countries are seeking to advance cooperation on connectivity, energy trade, and border management.

Analysts view the engagement as significant, given recent strains over boundary issues, including the Lipulekh dispute.

Apart from Modi, PM Oli also held a bilateral meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier today, discussing trade, tourism, and regional security. Nepal and Vietnam are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.

The SCO Summit, hosted by China, has drawn top leaders from across Asia, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian PM Modi.

This year’s agenda focuses on regional security, economic cooperation, and multipolarity amid growing global geopolitical competition.

For Nepal, which joined the SCO as a dialogue partner in 2016, Oli’s participation underscores Kathmandu’s balancing act between its two giant neighbors, India and China, while also expanding ties with other Asian nations.