The leaders of India and China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, accompanied by their teams, held their first, structured meeting in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan today. Both made clear they are committed to restoring normal, full relations between their countries, for their mutual bilateral benefit, for the benefit of the BRICS process, and the world.
The Indian Express reported that Prime Minister Modi confirmed his confidence at the start of the meeting, “that we will hold talks with an open heart and our discussions will be constructive.” Modi summed up the meeting succinctly in a post on his X account afterward: “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.”
The Indian Express also quoted President Xi expressing his “great pleasure” at meeting with Modi in Kazan, in his opening remarks. “Both, the people in our two countries and the international community, are paying great attention to our meeting. China and India are both ancient civilizations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernization endeavors. It best serves the fundamental interests of our two countries.…”
Xi further stated that “it is 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.”
