India-China ties draw global attention after Modi-Xi meeting, says Chinese FM

The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi has attracted widespread international attention, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, as Beijing described the talks as an important step in improving India-China relations.

According to Wang, the two leaders reached what China described as an important consensus that India and China should view each other as partners rather than rivals. He said the meeting focused on the strategic and long-term direction of bilateral relations.

Wang said Modi and Xi agreed to work together to maintain peace and stability in border areas. The two leaders also discussed strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, according to the Chinese side.

The meeting took place during Xi's visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit, his first trip to the country in seven years. Modi and Xi held bilateral talks in New Delhi amid efforts by the two sides to improve relations following tensions along their disputed Himalayan border.

During the meeting, Modi stressed that peace and stability along the border remained important for the further development of bilateral relations. The two leaders also discussed economic and trade ties, including the need to address concerns related to market access and trade imbalances.

The talks also covered the resumption of institutional exchanges and measures aimed at improving people-to-people links. Recent developments have included the resumption of flights, easing of some visa-related restrictions and the return of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.

Wang said the two sides should maintain strategic communication and work towards greater cooperation in multilateral platforms. India and China are both members of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20.

The Modi-Xi meeting was followed by further engagement on the economic front. India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in New Delhi on Sep 14, with the two sides agreeing to address economic and trade concerns in a balanced and constructive manner.

India has continued to raise concerns over its trade imbalance with China and issues related to market access. The two countries' bilateral trade reached a record level in 2025, even as India's imports from China remained substantially higher than its exports.

The latest diplomatic exchanges come after years of strain in ties following the 2020 military confrontation in eastern Ladakh. The two countries reached an agreement in 2024 that helped reduce the military standoff, paving the way for renewed high-level engagement.

Wang's remarks on the Modi-Xi meeting indicate Beijing's emphasis on stabilising relations and expanding areas of cooperation. The latest discussions, however, also remain linked to unresolved issues involving the border and economic relationship between the two countries.