Modi-Xi meet: India PM stresses on ‘border peace, mutual trust and respect’ for amicable ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting in Russia’s Kazan on Wednesday (Oct 23).

During the meeting, Xi Jinping reportedly urged that China and India should strengthen their cooperation, according to Chinese state media.

“The two sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, properly handle divergences and differences, and realize each other’s development dreams,” state broadcaster CCTV reported Xi as saying.

He also urged both countries to “correctly grasp the historical trends” in their relationship.

Meanwhile, PM Modi said he welcomed the recent border truce between the two nations.

“We welcome border agreement, mutual trust, respect and sensitivity should be the foundation of our ties.” PM Modi said.

“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,” said the Indian PM.

The Indian foreign ministry said discussions between PM Modi and Xi Jinping centred around improving India-China relations, particularly focusing on the situation along their shared border.

“The two leaders affirmed that stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China, as two neighbours and the two largest nations on earth, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity,” India’s Ministry for External Affairs said.

Both leaders met earlier during a formal dinner on Tuesday hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for BRICS leaders.

Two leaders met after a gap of five years. The last meeting between Modi and Xi happened in October 2019, in the backdrop of the 7th century Panch Ratha monument in India’s Mamallapuram.

The meeting came days after both nations announced they had reached an agreement to resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday said the border deal between India and China “will entail is that in the pending areas under discussion, patrolling and grazing activities, wherever applicable, will revert to the situation as it existed in 2020.”

The Chinese government also confirmed the border truce on Tuesday, saying that a resolution was reached on “relevant matters”

(With inputs from agencies)