Peace on border our priority: PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping after first bilateral in five years

The meeting takes place two days after India and China firmed up an agreement on patrolling by their militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, in Kazan, Russia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, in Kazan, Russia.Photo | PTI
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KAZAN: In their first structured bilateral talks in nearly five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday agreed that India and China can have a "peaceful and stable" relationship by displaying maturity and mutual respect and endorsed the pact on the resolution of the dragging eastern Ladakh border row.

The leaders endorsed the India-China agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and issued direction to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signalling attempts to normalise ties that were hit by a deadly military clash in 2020.

In the nearly 50-minute meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Modi underscored the need to not allow differences on boundary-related matters to disturb peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The two leaders noted that the special representatives on the India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in the resolution of the issue and for the maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas.

Following the talks, Modi posted on 'X': "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."

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, at a media briefing, said both Modi and Xi stressed that India and China can have a "peaceful, stable and beneficial bilateral relationship" with maturity and wisdom, and by showing mutual respect for each other's sensitivities, interests, concerns and aspirations.

Referring to New Delhi's consistent position on the eastern Ladakh row, Misri said restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas will create space for returning towards the path of normalisation of bilateral relations between the two sides.

"This meeting happened, as you are all aware, close on the heels of the disengagement and patrolling agreement and the resolution of issues that had arisen in the India-China border areas in 2020," he said.

"Naturally, 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," he added.

The two leaders also reviewed the state of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Misri said.

"They were of the view that stable bilateral relations between India and China, the two largest nations on earth, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity," he said.

The ties between the two Asian giants nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, in Kazan, Russia.
India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war: PM Modi at BRICS Summit

On Monday, India and China firmed up an agreement on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, in a major breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.

Replying to a question on whether the patrolling and disengagement agreement will cover issues at Depsang and Demchowk, Misri indicated that both friction points are part of the pact.

"The statements that I have made over the last 48 to 72 hours, I think the answer should be quite clear," he said.

Misri also elaborated on the Special Representatives' dialogue mechanism.

"The two leaders noted that 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," he said.

"Accordingly, they (Modi and Xi) instructed the special representatives to meet at an early date and to continue their efforts in this regard," Misri said.

India's Special Representative for the dialogue is NSA Ajit Doval while the Chinese side is headed at the talks by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"They have not had a round of talks in the Special Representatives format since December 2019.

So following today's meeting we hope to schedule the next round of the SRs talks at an appropriate date," Misri said.

"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," Misri said.

The foreign secretary said, "officials will now take the next steps to discuss enhancing strategic communication and stabilising bilateral relations by utilising the relevant official bilateral dialogue mechanisms, including at the level of our respective foreign ministers."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, in Kazan, Russia.
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