NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday reaffirmed the need for a strategic and long-term approach to India-China relations, with Modi stressing that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the continued development of bilateral ties.
The talks were held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, shortly after Xi arrived in the national capital for his two-day visit. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi underlined the importance of strictly observing existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues, while both leaders agreed that differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes.
The two leaders also discussed economic ties, including concerns over structural trade imbalances, supply chain issues and the need for meaningful and predictable market access. They expressed commitment to pursuing a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” settlement of the boundary question, keeping in view the broader political perspective of bilateral relations and the long-term interests of both countries.
Emphasising the principles that should guide the relationship, Modi said India-China ties must be based on “mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest”. The leaders also welcomed progress in people-to-people relations and stressed the need to further promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries.
The discussions came against the backdrop of sustained efforts by India and China to rebuild ties following the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh and the deadly Galwan Valley clashes of 2020. Both sides have taken a series of measures in recent months to stabilise relations, including high-level diplomatic and strategic exchanges.
Xi, in his opening remarks, said China has always viewed India-China relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and asserted that despite differences in national conditions, the two countries could support each other and pursue common development.
Referring to their wider global responsibilities, Xi said India and China, as the world’s two most populous countries and important members of the Global South, should work together to promote cooperation and pursue an inclusive economic future amid an increasingly complex international environment.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation on regional and global issues, including terrorism, trade and challenges confronting the multilateral system. Modi appreciated China’s support for India’s BRICS chairship and its contribution to the success of the summit.
The meeting marked another significant step in the ongoing effort to consolidate the thaw in bilateral ties that began after the October 2024 meeting between Modi and Xi in Kazan, following disengagement along the eastern Ladakh frontier.
