PM Modi holds talks with China President Xi Jinping; both agree not to let differences turn into disputes

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, several prominent matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation, including the vexed border issues, came up for discussion.

It is seven years after his last visit to India, and six years after the Galwan Valley confrontation, that Jinping has come to New Delhi. This is a good time now to take bilateral bonhomie a few steps ahead.

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The Ministry of External Affairs said that the two leaders agreed that differences between the two countries would not be allowed to turn into disputes and that they reaffirmed the need to take a strategic, long-term perspective on bilateral ties.

Foremost in the discussions were peace and tranquillity along the India-China border. Modi and Jinping agreed that they both are committed to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question.

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Here is the full statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs:

1. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with HE Mr Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China on 12 September 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
2. 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 Prime Minister highlighted that both sides must be guided by three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
3. The Prime Minister emphasised that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remains an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations. He underlined the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues. The two leaders expressed 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.
4. The two leaders took note of the progress in people-to-people ties and underscored the need to further promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries. On economic and trade relations, they underlined the need to address each other’s concerns, including structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues, and facilitation of meaningful and predictable market access.
5. The two leaders agreed that both sides must continue to expand common ground on regional and global issues, and in addressing challenges.
6. The Prime Minister appreciated China’s support for India’s BRICS chairship and its contributions towards the success of the BRICS Summit-2026.