Tianjin, China —

A much-anticipated meeting of the leaders of the world’s two most populous nations is underway, with China’s Xi Jinping welcoming India’s Narendra Modi on the sidelines of regional summit in Tianjin – as the neighbors explore a rapprochement accelerated by their shared frictions with the US.

Xi and Modi began their meeting at the Tianjin Guest House around noon on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, in the Indian leader’s first visit to China in seven years.

Modi is attending a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization , a Beijing-and Moscow-backed regional security grouping that has emerged as a cornerstone of Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s drive to rebalance global power in their favor.

The visit will also give Modi an opportunity to meet

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