Xi-Modi thaw at BRICS masks deep divisions between Asian rivals

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of a BRICS summit, their third bilateral meeting in two years. They agreed to promote cultural and business exchanges, and coordinate on regional and global issues. According to the Times of India, Xi told Modi that the current momentum in bilateral ties was hard-won and deserved to be cherished.

The leaders emphasized the need for a strategic and long-term perspective in their relationship, with Xi reiterating that India and China are partners, not rivals. However, the Indian readout of the meeting did not include this formulation, unlike a similar statement made in Tianjin last year. Modi underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity in border areas for the continued development of the relationship.

Modi and Xi also agreed to observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues, with a commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually beneficial resolution of these issues. The meeting was seen as a step towards reinforcing the thaw in their relationship, with another meeting between the leaders planned.

Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Times, Times of India — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.