Kazan/New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS Summit, in what was their first such bilateral delegation level meeting after nearly five years.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a briefing in Kazan, said Prime Minister Modi and the Chinese President welcomed the border agreements reached between the two sides through sustained dialogues over the last few weeks.
The two leaders also noted that the special representatives on the India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in its resolution and have instructed that the SRs should meet at an early date and continue their efforts, the FS said.
FS Misri said the two leaders were of the view that a stable bilateral relationship will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity.
The two leaders stressed that with maturity and wisdom, and by showing mutual respect, India and China can have peaceful and stable ties, the FS said.
During their meeting PM Modi and President Xi also reviewed the state of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, the FS said.
The two leaders also reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern and interests, and agreed to maintain close communication.
In a post on X after the meeting, PM Modi 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.”
The meeting between the two leaders comes after Monday’s major breakthrough agreement between the two nations on patrolling agreements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which will enable Indian and Chinese soldiers to resume patrolling as they had been doing before the border face-off began in May 2020.
Announcing the breakthrough on Monday, FS Misri said: “Over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other in a variety of forums.
“As a result of these discussions, agreement has been arrived at patrolling arrangements along the line of actual control in the India China border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020. We will be taking the next steps on this.”
UNI RN