New Delhi, September 13, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the two leaders reviewing the trajectory of India-China relations and discussing steps to strengthen engagement between the two countries.
The meeting highlighted the steady improvement in bilateral ties since Modi and Xi last met in Tianjin in August 2025. Both leaders stressed the importance of viewing the relationship from a long-term and strategic perspective, while ensuring that differences between the two countries do not escalate into disputes.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India’s engagement with China should be guided by three principles — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. He also emphasized that maintaining peace and stability along the border remains fundamental to the broader development of bilateral relations.
On the boundary question, Modi called for continued adherence to existing agreements and understandings. The two leaders agreed that efforts toward a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary issue should take into account the larger political relationship between the two nations as well as the long-term interests of their peoples.
The discussions also touched upon growing people-to-people connections. Modi and Xi noted progress in bilateral contacts and emphasized the importance of expanding cultural exchanges, strengthening business-to-business links and facilitating greater movement between India and China.
Economic relations emerged as another important area of discussion. The leaders recognized the need to address concerns on both sides, particularly issues related to the structural trade imbalance and supply-chain resilience. They also highlighted the importance of creating more meaningful, predictable and mutually beneficial market access.
Beyond bilateral matters, Modi and Xi discussed the need for India and China to expand areas of convergence on regional and global issues. The leaders agreed that greater cooperation could help both countries respond more effectively to emerging international challenges.
The meeting comes as India seeks to further consolidate its role in multilateral forums while maintaining constructive engagement with major global partners. Both sides indicated support for continued dialogue and efforts to build greater stability and predictability in their relationship.
Prime Minister Modi also thanked China for its support for India’s BRICS chairship and acknowledged Beijing’s contribution to the successful conduct of the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The talks underline the continuing importance of sustained high-level dialogue between India and China as the two Asian powers seek to manage differences, strengthen areas of cooperation and build a more stable long-term bilateral relationship.
