PM Modi-Xi Jinping Meet: What Transpired During 60-Minute India-China Ice Breaker Talks

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese Premiere Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The icebreaker meeting happened just 72 hours after a big breakthrough in diplomatic and military talks, aimed at restoring the status quo that existed before May 2020, when tensions escalated following the military clash in Galwan.  Relations between India and China have deteriorated since the military standoff in Ladakh, primarily due to Beijing's unilateral actions that violated the Line of Actual Control (LAC).   

During the bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping PM Modi exuded confidence and said,"I am sure that we will talk with an open mind and our discussion will be constructive. We are having a formal meeting after 5 years. We believe that the India-China relationship is very important not only for our people but also for global peace, stability and progress. We welcome the consensus reached on the issues that have arisen in the last 4 years on the border. Maintaining peace and stability on the border should remain our priority. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of our relations."

Later, he took to X and shared a few glimpses from his meeting with the Chinese president. "Met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS Summit. 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", tweeted PM Modi after holding talks with the Chinese premiere. 

What Transpired During 60-Minute India-China Icebreaker Talks? 

Addressing a presser on PM Modi's bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "PM Modi met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. This was their first proper bilateral meeting at the delegation level in nearly 5 years, the last one being on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brasilia in 2019. This meeting happened close on the heels of the disengagement and patrolling agreement and the resolution of issues that had arisen in the India-China border areas in 2020. The two leaders welcomed the agreement reached between the two sides through sustained dialogue over the last several weeks in diplomatic as well as military channels".

He asserted"PM Modi underscored the importance of not allowing differences on boundary-related matters to disturb peace and tranquillity on our borders. The two leaders noted that the special representatives on the India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in the resolution of the boundary question and for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas..."

Moreover, Misri stated that the two leaders also reviewed the state of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. They were of the view that stable bilateral relations between India and China, the two largest nations on earth will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity. It will also contribute to a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world. The leaders underlined the need to progress bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges. Both of them stressed that with maturity and wisdom, and by showing mutual respect for each other's sensitivities, interests, concerns and aspirations, the two countries can have a peaceful, stable and beneficial bilateral relationship. The restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas will create space for returning us towards the path of normalization of our bilateral relations. 

He added, "Officials will now take the next steps to discuss enhancing strategic communication and stabilizing bilateral relations by utilizing the relevant official bilateral dialogue mechanisms, including at the level of our respective foreign ministers. They also had a very productive exchange on BRICS and the potential for India and China to enhance cooperation on this particular platform. In closing, Prime Minister Modi also assured India's full support to China's SCO presidency next year."

What Did Xi Jinping Say?

During the bilateral meeting with PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “ It's my great pleasure to meet you in Kazan. It's the first time for us to have a formal meeting in five years time. Both the people in our two countries and the international community are paying great attention to our meeting. China and India are both ancient civilisations, major developing countries, and important members of the global south. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernization endeavours. It best serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and people.”  

He added,"It's important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle our differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other's pursuit of development aspirations. It's also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries and to contribute to promoting multi-polarization and democracy in international relations."