Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, drawing significant global attention. The talks marked Xi’s first visit to India since 2019 and their third bilateral engagement in under two years.
According to official statements from both sides, the leaders welcomed the steady progress in India-China relations since their previous meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. They reaffirmed the need to view bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and agreed that differences should not become disputes.
Prime Minister Modi underlined that both sides must be guided by three principles: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest. He emphasized that peace and tranquility in the border areas remains an essential foundation for the continued development of relations. Both leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, proceeding from the overall political perspective of bilateral ties and the long-term interests of their peoples. Modi also stressed the importance of observing existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues.
The discussions covered expanding people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, business linkages, and greater mobility between the two countries. On the economic front, the leaders noted the need to address each other’s concerns, including the structural trade imbalance, supply chain issues, and the facilitation of meaningful and predictable market access.
Chinese President Xi described the progress achieved — including resumed institutional exchanges, expanding areas of cooperation, and record bilateral trade — as hard-won and worth cherishing. He called for the two countries to support each other, draw on each other’s strengths, and pursue common development as partners
Prime Minister Modi appreciated China’s support for India’s BRICS chairship and the successful hosting of the summit. He also conveyed best wishes for China’s upcoming BRICS presidency next year
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a gradual thaw in relations that began after the leaders’ interaction in Kazan in 2024, followed by steps such as the resumption of direct flights and other confidence-building measures. While challenges, particularly along the border, remain, both sides signalled a willingness to manage differences and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The bilateral talks formed part of the broader BRICS Summit proceedings in New Delhi, which focused on resilience, cooperation, and global governance issues among member and partner countries.
