Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Ex-Diplomat Warns Modi-Xi Talks Won’t Yield Major Border Concessions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Xi’s visit was significant because he had not visited India for seven years.
Former diplomat K.P. Fabian said the meeting could help India-China relations move forward.
However, he said China probably would not give India major concessions on the border issue.
Fabian said China might keep the dispute unresolved for use in diplomacy.
The BRICS declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and cross-border terrorism.
Fabian questioned whether China would support India at the United Nations Security Council on terrorism designations.
He also supported using national currencies for trade but opposed creating a common BRICS currency.
Former diplomat K.P. Fabian said the Modi-Xi meeting could produce some progress in India-China relations.
Fabian said China was unlikely to make major concessions on the unresolved border issue.
He said China might retain the border dispute as a diplomatic tool.
The BRICS New Delhi Declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and cross-border terrorism.
Fabian urged greater use of national currencies but rejected a common BRICS currency, warning it could be dominated by China.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and former diplomat K.P. Fabian.
- What
- Modi and Xi held a bilateral meeting, while Fabian assessed its likely impact on India-China relations, border talks, and BRICS cooperation.
- When
- The meeting took place during the BRICS Summit; Fabian made his comments on Monday. The leaders’ previous meeting in India was in 2019.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Xi’s BRICS visit created an opportunity for bilateral discussions, and Fabian said top-level signals are needed for movement in India-China relations.
- Meeting context
- Xi Jinping visited India for the BRICS Summit and held bilateral discussions with Narendra Modi.
- Previous India meeting
- The leaders’ last meeting in India was in 2019.
- Border outlook
- Fabian said China was unlikely to make large concessions on the border issue.
- BRICS declaration
- The New Delhi Declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and used strong language against cross-border terrorism.
- Security Council question
- Fabian questioned whether China would support designating Pakistani terrorist organisations at the United Nations Security Council.
- Currency cooperation
- Fabian advocated increased use of national currencies for trade instead of describing the policy as de-dollarisation.
- Common currency warning
- Fabian opposed a common BRICS currency, saying it could reduce financial sovereignty and be dominated by China.
- BRICS economic figures
- Fabian said the 11 BRICS states had a combined GDP of $34 trillion, while China’s GDP was $20 trillion.