Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening China-India relations, saying the two countries should regard each other as partners rather than rivals.
The two leaders held a candid and in-depth discussion on Saturday on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where they reached important consensus on advancing bilateral relations and cooperation.
President Xi said China has consistently viewed its relationship with India from a strategic and long-term perspective. He noted that his meetings with Modi over the past two years had helped guide bilateral relations towards improved cooperation.
According to Xi, institutional exchanges between the two countries have gradually resumed, areas of cooperation have expanded, and bilateral trade has reached a new record high.
He said the progress achieved so far should be valued and consolidated, adding that although China and India have different national conditions, both countries can learn from each other’s strengths, support one another and pursue common development.
Xi described China and India as two of the world’s most populous countries and important members of the Global South, saying they have an important role to play in promoting global peace, stability, development and prosperity.
He stressed that China and India are “partners for cooperation, not rivals,” and said the development of one country should create opportunities for the other rather than be viewed as a threat.
Xi called for greater cooperation in areas including economic and trade relations, people-to-people exchanges and direct flights, saying such efforts would strengthen public support for improved bilateral ties.
He also urged both sides to address their respective economic and trade concerns and maintain the sound and stable development of bilateral economic relations.
On border issues, Xi called for mutual respect, understanding and political wisdom to overcome disruptions. He urged the two countries to pursue progress in both bilateral relations and border negotiations, with the two tracks reinforcing each other to maintain peace and stability along the border.
Xi further called for stronger cooperation within multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20 and BRICS, saying China and India should work together to address global challenges and uphold international fairness and justice.
Prime Minister Modi, for his part, said his meetings with Xi had helped move India-China relations in a positive direction, serving the interests of more than 2.8 billion people in both countries.
Modi said India and China, as two major civilizations, have learned from each other through centuries of exchanges and have progressed together.
He reaffirmed India’s willingness to be a partner rather than a rival to China and to view China’s development as an opportunity rather than a challenge.
Modi also said India’s foreign policy remains independent and that its relations with China would not be influenced by any third party.
He reaffirmed India’s position on Taiwan and Xizang-related issues, stating that India would not allow forces to conduct anti-China activities from its territory.
Modi said India was ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China based on mutual respect and trust, strengthen strategic communication, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and increase people-to-people exchanges.
He also pledged India’s support for China’s assumption of the BRICS chairmanship next year and expressed India’s readiness to work closely with China to strengthen cooperation among Global South countries.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of safeguarding peace and stability in border areas while promoting stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation.