Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. This marked their first proper bilateral meeting at the delegation level in nearly five years, the last being at the BRICS Summit in Brazil in 2019.
The meeting was significant, given the recent LAC patrolling agreement between the two countries and other recent bilateral agreements. Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping welcomed the recent agreements addressing issues that had arisen since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with PM Modi saying, ““We welcome the agreement on the issues that had come up over the last four years.” These agreements were reached through sustained dialogue in both diplomatic and military channels.
PM Modi also took to X and wrote, “India-China relations are important for the people of our countries, and for regional and global peace and stability. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity will guide bilateral relations.”
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility on the border, highlighting that mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity should form the basis of India-China relations. This meeting followed the recent disengagement and patrolling agreement, which resolved issues that had emerged in the India-China border areas in 2020.
Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping emphasized that as time-honored civilizations and large developing countries, it is in the fundamental interest of both nations to maintain the right direction of bilateral relations. He called for strengthened communication and cooperation to enhance strategic mutual trust and support each other’s development aspirations.
Role of Special Representatives
The leaders noted the critical role of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in resolving boundary issues and maintaining peace. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri informed that the special representatives, India’s NSA and China’s Foreign Minister, will be scheduled to meet on a certain date after PM Modi and President Xi Jinping’s talk.
“Special Representative of India Mr. Ajit Doval, who is also the National Security Advisor and the Special Representative of the People’s Republic of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo, have met on the sidelines of international events, but they have not had a round of talks in the Special Representative’s format since December 2019. So, following today’s meeting, we hope to schedule the next round of the SR’s talks at an appropriate date,” Misri said.
The Special Representatives, Ajit Doval from India and Foreign Minister Wang Yi from China, have not had a formal round of talks since December 2019 said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. However, the two last met on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In Russia, both sides agreed to finding a resolution to the ongoing issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They emphasized that it is important to create stable conditions to nurture bilateral relations. Doval underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as a prerequisite for normalizing bilateral relations. He stressed that both countries must adhere to the agreements and protocols established over the years.
PM Modi and Xi Jinping, both reviewed the state of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. They agreed that stable relations between India and China, the two largest nations on Earth, would positively impact regional and global peace and prosperity. The two sides agreed to enhance strategic communication and stabilize bilateral relations using official bilateral dialogue mechanisms, including meetings between their respective Foreign Ministers.
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