Agencies | New Delhi:
With India-China relations showing signs of a gradual improvement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday placed peace and tranquillity along the border at the centre of their bilateral engagement, stressing that stability in border areas remains essential for the continued development of ties.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi and discussed the boundary question, trade and economic relations, people-to-people exchanges and a range of regional and global issues.
Modi emphasised that peace and tranquillity in the border areas is an essential basis for the continued development of India-China relations. He also underlined the importance of both sides adhering to existing agreements and understandings related to the boundary.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, taking into account the broader political perspective of bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two countries.
They also welcomed the steady progress in bilateral ties since their previous meeting in Tianjin in August 2025, and agreed that both countries should adopt a strategic and long-term approach to their relationship.
The leaders stressed that differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes.
Modi underlined that India-China relations should be guided by three principles: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
The two sides also took note of progress in people-to-people contacts and emphasised the need to further promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries.
Economic and trade issues also figured prominently in the talks. The leaders stressed the need to address each other’s concerns, including the structural trade imbalance and supply-chain issues.
They also called for meaningful and predictable market access to facilitate more balanced and sustainable economic engagement between India and China.
Modi and Xi agreed that the two countries should continue efforts to expand common ground on regional and global issues and work together to address emerging challenges.
The prime minister also appreciated China’s support for India’s BRICS chairship and its contribution to the successful conduct of the BRICS Summit 2026.
The Modi-Xi meeting comes against the backdrop of a cautious thaw in relations following years of tensions along the India-China border.
Xi is visiting India for the first time in nearly seven years, while both countries have taken steps in recent months to restore diplomatic and economic engagement. The latest talks, therefore, assume significance as New Delhi and Beijing seek to consolidate the improvement in ties while managing unresolved differences, particularly the boundary question.
With border stability, trade and people-to-people exchanges emerging as key areas of discussion, Saturday’s meeting reflected an effort by the two sides to place their relationship on a more stable and predictable footing.
