Xi, Modi welcome ‘steady progress’ in India-China ties

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India on September 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where the two leaders welcomed the “steady progress” in India-China relations since their last meeting in August 2025.

“We reviewed the full range of India-China relations. Also conveyed best wishes for China’s BRICS presidency that commences next year,” said Mr. Modi in a message after the meeting.

“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 External Affairs Ministry said in a statement after the talks.

Mr. Modi stressed the importance of “peace and tranquillity” in the border areas, describing the matter as “essential basis for development of bilateral relations”.

The MEA said the two leaders expressed their 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.

A Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said, “They [India and China] should pursue progress on bilateral relations and the boundary question in parallel, ensuring that each supports the other, and maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas.”

The meeting came a fortnight after the conclusion of the 2026 Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, which began following an improvement in bilateral ties over the past two years that increased people-to-people relations and cross-border trade through Himalayan passes.

Mr. Xi last met Mr. Modi in August 2025 on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, building on a similar meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia. These dialogues have indicated a gradual improvement in ties that had entered a cold phase following the 2020 Galwan clashes in eastern Ladakh.

Mr. Xi arrived with a large delegation earlier in the day for a two-day visit and was driven to the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam amid tight security.

Chinese State media reported that Mr. Xi said the two states have “different national circumstances”, but “China and India can learn from each other’s strengths and achieve shared development”. Mr.