The photograph captures a moment between Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in Tianjin, China. The two leaders are seen smiling and shaking hands, surrounded by other delegates and security personnel. Oli’s spouse, Radhika Shakya, is also present, adding a more personal and cordial touch to the interaction.

Both leaders appear relaxed and amicable, signaling that despite recent border disputes and political friction, personal rapport between them remains intact. Modi later wrote on Facebook that “India’s relations with Nepal are deep-rooted and very special,” a sentiment visibly echoed in the image.

Against this backdrop, some observers interpret the informal encounter as a sign of warming ties, while others dismiss it as mere “photo-op diplomacy.” Although no official agenda for the meeting has been made public, the picture itself conveys a clear message: however contentious bilateral issues may be, lines of communication and personal exchanges between top leaders of the two countries remain active.

This scene raises an important question: will the Tianjin handshake inject new momentum into strained Nepal–India relations, or will it remain just a symbolic gesture of diplomatic courtesy?