Xi calls for putting Sino-Indian ties on 'right track' in meet with Modi

Xi added that a healthy and stable relationship would serve the interests of both nations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday agreed that keeping peace on the Indo-China border was necessary to further deepen ties between the two nations during a bilateral meeting after the conclusion of the 9th BRICS Summit in the Chinese city of Xiamen.

"One of the important points they made during the meeting was that peace and tranquillity in the border areas was a prerequisite for the further development of our relationship," Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told the media.

President Xi also called for putting India-China relations on the "right track", according to the official Xinhua news agency.

 
China is prepared to work with India to seek guidance from the five principles of the Panchsheel Agreement, Xi assured PM Modi as they held their first substantive bilateral meeting after the Doklam standoff, which had put ties between the two countries under strain.

Acknowledging that healthy and stable ties between India and China are imperative for the stability of the region, the Chinese President said, "China and India are each other's major neighbours. We are also, at the same time, two of the world's largest developing and emerging countries. Therefore, healthy and stable relations serve the financial interests of the people of both countries and the shared expectations of the regional and world community."

"China is prepared to work with India to seek guidance, with the five principles of Panchsheel — mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and cooperation for mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence," the Chinese President said.

#WATCH LIVE: MEA briefs the media in Xiamen #BRICS2017 https://t.co/1Tjs4p38oh

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2017

 

Modi, who attended the BRICS Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue earlier in the day, met Xi on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Summit here.

The prime minister, accompanied by senior officials including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, met the Chinese leader just before his travel to Myanmar from this port city.

During their meeting, Modi congratulated Xi on a "very successful" BRICS Summit, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Met President Xi Jinping. We held fruitful talks on bilateral relations between India and China. pic.twitter.com/hbKRPpRwyl

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017

The various deliberations during the BRICS Summit were extremely productive. Looking forward to building on these in the times to come.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017

I thank the Chinese government & people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017

The meeting comes amid diplomatic efforts by the two sides to overcome the bitterness caused by the 73-day face-off between their troops in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector.

The Chinese and the Indian troops were engaged in a standoff since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese Army.

On August 28, India's External Affairs Ministry announced that New Delhi and Beijing have decided on "expeditious disengagement" of their border troops in the disputed Dokalam area.

Indian officials had earlier indicated that the two leaders were expected to discuss ways to create confidence building measures. The sense is that both countries want to "move on" after the standoff.

Earlier, Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.