New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping that India-China relations should be guided by three principles mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. The message was delivered during a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that several issues were discussed during the meeting. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Modi raised India’s concerns and emphasised the need for both countries to remain sensitive to each other’s core concerns.
“A bilateral meeting took place between the Prime Minister and President Xi on the sidelines of the 18th Summit,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
According to the MEA, Modi stressed that differences between the two countries should not turn into disputes. The three principles of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest were presented as important guidelines for managing bilateral relations.
The meeting comes at a time when India and China are attempting to stabilise ties following years of tension along their disputed border. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after the military standoff in eastern Ladakh that began in 2020.
The two sides reached an understanding in October 2024 on disengagement at several friction points in Ladakh. That development helped create conditions for improving diplomatic relations after a prolonged period of strain.
Modi and Xi had also met in Tianjin in August 2025. During their latest interaction, the two leaders noted what they described as steady progress in bilateral relations since their previous meeting.
Both sides agreed on the importance of taking a strategic and long-term view of India-China relations. The leaders also discussed the need to strengthen people-to-people ties and expand cooperation in areas such as cultural exchanges, business connections and mobility.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of reports of fresh military face-offs in the Taksing region of Arunachal Pradesh during July and August. The border issue therefore remains an important challenge in the relationship, even as both governments seek to maintain dialogue.
Jaiswal was also asked about recent comments from China’s foreign minister regarding the discussions between Modi and Xi. He said India had taken note of the remarks reported in the media and referred to the detailed readout already issued by the MEA.
The BRICS Summit itself also featured discussions on a wide range of international and economic issues. According to Jaiswal, the summit declaration covered political matters, global issues, trade, investment, innovation and start-ups.
He said the next step would be for BRICS member countries to work together to implement the understandings reflected in the declaration.
The Modi-Xi meeting is significant as both countries continue to balance unresolved differences with the need for stable relations. While border concerns remain, New Delhi’s emphasis on mutual respect, sensitivity and interest signals its preference for managing disagreements through sustained dialogue.
For India, the immediate challenge will be to ensure that the recent improvement in ties translates into greater stability on the ground while continuing to address its core security and strategic concerns with China.
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