PM meets Xi, welcomes border agreement: Peace at border should be our priority

Welcoming the recent agreement to resolve the border standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told Chinese President Xi Jinping.

That maintaining peace and stability on the border should be a priority for the two countries. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in Russia’s Kazan in their first formal meeting in five years. “We believe that the India-China relationship is very important not only for our people but also for global peace, stability and progress,” PM Modi said, adding that “mutual trust, respect and sensitivity will guide bilateral relations”.

PM Modi and President Xi last met in October 2019, in the backdrop of the 7th century Panch Ratha monument in Tamil Nadu’s Mamallapuram.

On Monday, the two nations agreed to resume patrolling at key friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh “leading to disengagement”. That border breakthrough – achieved after weeks of arduous negotiations – coupled with today’s meeting in Kazan have raised hopes of a recovery in bilateral ties that hit rock bottom after a deadly clash between the militaries of the two nations in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020.

WHAT PM MODI, CHINA’S XI DISCUSSED TODAY
PM Modi, at the meeting, underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquillity.

Following the meeting, PM Modi tweeted, “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 government said that the discussion between the two world leaders touched on stabilising and rebuilding bilateral relations. Prime Minister Modi and President Xi agreed to make full use of existing diplomatic channels, including meetings at the Foreign Ministers’ level, to address issues and enhance cooperation, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“The two leaders affirmed that stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China, as two neighbours and the two largest nations on earth, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity,” the MEA said.

Addressing a press conference, India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that PM Modi underscored the need to not allow differences on boundary related matters to disturb peace and tranquillity on borders.

“PM Modi and President Xi noted that special representatives on India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in its resolution,” Misri said, adding that the two world leaders have instructed special representatives to meet at an early date and continue their efforts.

XI CALLS FOR MORE COMMUNICATION
During the delegation-level talks, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the two nations need to communicate and cooperate more to properly handle differences.

“It’s important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle our differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations. It’s also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries and to contribute to promoting multi-polarization and democracy in international relations,” Xi Jinping said.