Modi, Xi meet at BRICS summit, agree on border and trade issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an important bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit taking place in New Delhi. India and China's relations have been steadily improving in recent times, and the meeting took place against this backdrop. Notably, Xi visited India after a gap of nearly seven years, which is being seen as a major development for diplomatic ties between the two countries. The talks between the two leaders lasted about 50 minutes and covered the border dispute, trade, people-to-people contacts and challenges facing the world in detail.

During the meeting, PM Modi said clearly that peace and stability on the border is the most essential condition for India and China's relations to move forward. Both countries stressed that previously agreed border agreements and mutual understandings must be fully followed. The two leaders also reiterated that the long-pending border dispute should be resolved keeping in mind the long-term interests of the people of both countries, in a manner that is fair, reasonable and acceptable to both sides.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the improvement in India-China relations following their meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. Both agreed that mutual relations should be viewed from a long-term and strategic perspective rather than through minor issues, and that care should be taken to ensure differences do not turn into disputes.

Putting forward India's position, PM Modi said that advancing relations between the two major powers requires adherence to three golden principles: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at growing contact between the peoples of the two countries. They stressed the need to reduce the distance between the two peoples by easing cultural exchange, tourism, education and business cooperation.

To strengthen bilateral economic relations further, there was detailed discussion on trade imbalances and supply chain concerns. Both countries agreed to address each other's economic concerns while providing easy, reliable and transparent markets.

The two leaders also agreed on increasing international consensus to tackle global challenges. PM Modi thanked China for its cooperation during India's BRICS presidency and praised China's positive role in making the 2026 BRICS summit a success.

This process of talks between India and China, which began after a long period of border tension, is being seen as the start of new political and economic equations across Asia and the world.