India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India on September 12, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where the two leaders welcomed the “steady progress” in India-China relations since their last meeting in August 2025.
“We reviewed the full range of India-China relations. Also conveyed best wishes for China’s BRICS presidency that commences next year,” said Mr. Modi in a message after the meeting.
“The two leaders welcomed the steady progress in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. They reaffirmed that both countries should take a strategic and long-term perspective of their ties. Differences should not become disputes,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement after the talks.
Mr. Modi stressed the importance of “peace and tranquillity” in the border areas, describing the matter as “essential basis for development of bilateral relations”.
The MEA said the two leaders expressed their commitment to “a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question”, proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples.
A Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said, “They [India and China] should pursue progress on bilateral relations and the boundary question in parallel, ensuring that each supports the other, and maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas.”
The meeting came a fortnight after the conclusion of the 2026 Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, which began following an improvement in bilateral ties over the past two years that increased people-to-people relations and cross-border trade through Himalayan passes.
Mr. Xi last met Mr. Modi in August 2025 on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, building on a similar meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia. These dialogues have indicated a gradual improvement in ties that had entered a cold phase following the 2020 Galwan clashes in eastern Ladakh.
Mr. Xi arrived with a large delegation earlier in the day for a two-day visit and was driven to the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam amid tight security.
Strategic perspective
Chinese State media reported that Mr. Xi said the two states have “different national circumstances”, but “China and India can learn from each other’s strengths and achieve shared development”. Mr. Xi outlined four points on how to ensure the long-term, steady development of India-China relations and emphasised “rational strategic understanding”, “cooperation through mutual benefit”, “mutual respect and understanding”, and “openness and inclusiveness through multilateral cooperation” in the UN, SCO, BRICS, and G20.
The MEA said the two leaders agreed that both sides “must continue to expand common ground” in resolving “regional and global issues” while “addressing challenges”.
West Asia
Speaking at the summit on the situation in West Asia, Mr. Xi said the war has inflicted “serious losses” on the people of all countries in the region, and it is against the common interests of the international community. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, referring to Mr. Xi’s speech, called for a “political settlement” of the crisis. “China will work with fellow BRICS members to play a due role in bringing peace and tranquillity to the Middle East,” said Mr. Xi, referring to India and China as “key members of the Global South” with “significant responsibilities” in world affairs.
“We must keep the future of humanity and the well-being of our people at heart, join hands to drive high-quality cooperation within the expanded BRICS framework, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and an economic globalisation that is universally beneficial and inclusive, and inject greater positive energy into promoting global peace, stability, development, and prosperity,” he said.
Mr. Xi said BRICS has demonstrated “vigorous vitality” over the past two decades and has become the “most influential cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries in the world today”. He said BRICS countries have overcome numerous challenges working together, including the “international financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change”.
(With inputs from Ananth Krishnan in Beijing)
Published – September 12, 2026 11:22 pm IST
