Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a pivotal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, emphasizing the necessity of advancing bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. The leaders discussed enhancing strategic communication and exploring cooperation to tackle developmental challenges.
During the meeting, PM Modi welcomed the recent agreement for “complete disengagement and resolution” of issues stemming from the 2020 border conflicts between India and China. He highlighted the significance of managing differences and disputes appropriately to maintain peace and stability along the border.
According to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both leaders agreed that their respective Special Representatives on the India-China boundary issue would convene soon to oversee the management of peace in border areas and to seek a fair and mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary dispute.
The dialogue will extend to relevant mechanisms at the level of Foreign Ministers and other officials to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations, the PMO said. PM Modi and Xi affirmed that stable, predictable, and friendly relations between the two largest nations will positively influence regional and global peace and prosperity, contributing to a multipolar Asia and world.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking at a media briefing regarding PM Modi’s visit to Russia, reiterated the importance of preventing differences on boundary matters from disrupting peace along the borders. He said that this meeting marked the first substantial bilateral discussion at the delegation level in nearly five years, following their last meeting at the 2019 BRICS Summit in Brasilia.
The leaders praised the agreement reached through sustained dialogue over recent weeks among both diplomatic and military channels. PM Modi stressed the role of Special Representatives in resolving boundary questions and maintaining peace.
Misri indicated that the two leaders reviewed the status of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term viewpoint. They expressed that a stable relationship would yield positive results for both regional and global stability, emphasizing mutual respect for each other’s interests and concerns as key to fostering a beneficial bilateral relationship.
As officials prepare to discuss enhancing strategic communication and stabilizing relations, the Foreign Secretary remarked that restoring peace in border areas is crucial for normalizing bilateral ties. He also noted productive discussions on BRICS cooperation and assured India’s full support for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next year.
The PMO release acknowledged the efforts made by Indian and Chinese negotiators and the positive outcomes achieved, expressing optimism that recent agreements would ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Misri mentioned ongoing confidence-building measures that would continue to evolve as the two nations engage across multiple formats.
In response to questions regarding specific border areas, Misri clarified that the latest agreements pertain to unresolved issues along the LAC since the conflict escalated in 2020. He added that future discussions would also include the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, as part of the ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral relations.
(Inputs from ANI)