Peace on border our priority: Modi, Xi after first bilateral in 5 years

Meeting in Russia’s Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, the two leaders welcomed the agreement between their countries on patrolling along the LAC as part of a process they hope will eventually lead to disengagement and de-escalation.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question will meet at an early date – NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last met in December 2019, months before the Chinese incursions.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said “the relevant dialogue mechanisms at the level of Foreign Ministers and other officials will also be utilised to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations”. In other words, bilateral diplomatic and political conversations should resume.

Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, said, “Met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS Summit. India-China relations are important for the people of our countries, and for regional and global peace and stability. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity will guide bilateral relations.”

At the start of the meeting, Modi said, “We welcome the agreements that we have reached over the border. Maintaining peace and tranquillity over the border should remain our priority, and mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of our relationship. I am confident that we will hold talks with an open heart and our discussions will be constructive.”

At the meeting, President Xi said, “Mr Prime Minister, it’s my great pleasure to meet you in Kazan. It’s the first time for us to have a formal meeting in five years’ time. Both, the people in our two countries and the international community, are paying great attention to our meeting. China and India are both ancient civilisations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernisation endeavours.”

“It best serves the fundamental interests of our two countries… For both sides, to keep to the trend of history and the right direction of our bilateral relations, it’s important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations. It’s also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and to contribute to promoting multi-polarisation and democracy in international relations,” he said.

The MEA said, “Welcoming the recent agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquillity.”

It said the two leaders “agreed” that the “Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question will meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas and to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question”.

PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan on Wednesday. (AP Photo)

“The two leaders affirmed that stable, predictable and amicable bilateral relations between India and China, as two neighbours and the two largest nations on Earth, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity. It will also contribute to a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world. The leaders underlined the need to progress bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges,” the MEA said.

Misri, while briefing reporters, said this was the first proper bilateral meeting at the delegation-level in nearly five years, the last one being on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brasilia in November 2019. “This meeting happened close on the heels of the disengagement and patrolling agreement and the resolution of the issues that arose in India-China border areas in 2020… The two leaders welcomed the agreement reached between the two sides through sustained dialogue over the last several weeks in diplomatic as well as military channels.”

Prime Minister Modi, Misri said, “underscored the importance of not allowing differences on boundary-related matters to disturb peace and tranquillity on our borders. And in this context, the two leaders said the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in the resolution of the boundary question and for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Accordingly, they instructed the Special Representatives to meet at an early date and to continue their efforts… We hope to schedule the next round of the SR-level talks at an appropriate time.”

“The leaders also reviewed the state of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. They were of the view that stable bilateral relations between India and China… will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity, and stressed that with maturity and wisdom and by showing mutual respect for each other’s sensitivities, interests, concerns and aspirations.”

“The two countries can have a peaceful, stable and beneficial bilateral relationship, as we have maintained during the last four years. The restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas will create space for returning us towards the path of normalisation of our bilateral relations,” he said.

He said “officials will now take the next steps to discuss enhancing strategic communication and stabilising bilateral relations by utilising the relevant official bilateral dialog mechanisms, including at the level of our respective Foreign Ministers”.

He said “the two leaders also briefly reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern and interest. They agreed to maintain close communication in this regard. Naturally, they also had a very productive exchange on BRICS and the potential for India and China to enhance cooperation on this particular platform.”

Prime Minister Modi, Misri said, also assured India’s support to China’s SCO presidency next year in 2025.