Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Xi and Modi Seek Stronger India-China Ties at BRICS Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
They met during a large international meeting called the BRICS Summit.
Xi said China and India should act like partners instead of rivals.
He suggested four ways to improve their relationship, including cooperation, respect and working together internationally.
Modi said the countries should respect each other and be sensitive to each other’s concerns.
Both leaders said disagreements should not become bigger disputes.
They discussed trade, travel, cultural exchanges and direct flights.
They also agreed that peace along their border is important while they continue discussing a boundary solution.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, during the 18th BRICS Summit.
Xi said China and India should view each other as partners and development opportunities rather than rivals or threats.
Xi proposed strategic understanding, win-win cooperation, mutual respect and understanding, and open multilateral cooperation.
Modi emphasized mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest, saying differences should not become disputes.
The leaders discussed border peace, trade, direct flights, people-to-people exchanges, supply chains and cooperation through BRICS and other international forums.
- Who
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- They held bilateral talks on improving China-India relations, expanding cooperation and managing differences.
- When
- September 12, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit.
- Why
- To strengthen bilateral ties, support development cooperation, maintain border peace and coordinate through multilateral institutions.
Chinese emphasis
Indian emphasis
How to frame the relationship
Chinese emphasis
Xi urged both countries to see each other as partners and development opportunities rather than rivals or threats.
Indian emphasis
Modi emphasized mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest as the principles guiding relations.
Managing disagreements
Chinese emphasis
Xi called for mutual respect and understanding, parallel progress in bilateral relations and boundary discussions, and continued peace in border areas.
Indian emphasis
Modi stressed adherence to existing agreements, border peace and a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.
Economic cooperation
Chinese emphasis
Xi called development the greatest common denominator and supported expanded cooperation, exchanges and win-win outcomes.
Indian emphasis
India highlighted the need to address trade imbalances and supply-chain concerns while making economic cooperation more balanced.
- Meeting
- Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi held bilateral talks during the 18th BRICS Summit.
- Xi's message
- China and India are partners, not rivals, and opportunities rather than threats to each other's development.
- Four-point approach
- Strategic understanding, win-win cooperation, mutual respect and understanding, and open and inclusive multilateral cooperation.
- Indian position
- Modi said relations should be guided by mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
- Economic and social ties
- The talks covered trade, business links, supply chains, direct flights, mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
- Border issue
- Both sides reaffirmed the importance of border peace and a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement.
- Multilateral cooperation
- The leaders discussed cooperation through BRICS, the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20.
