Modi And Xi Meet At BRICS Summit, Declare Border Peace Is Essential, New Delhi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that peace and tranquility in border areas remain critical for rebuilding bilateral relations with neighboring China. The high-stakes meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, marking Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to India in seven years.

Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors suffered a severe blow following a deadly border skirmish in 2020. However, diplomatic momentum has grown over the past year, culminating in the 25th round of talks last month where officials agreed on eight key points to resolve longstanding territorial disputes.

"Peace and tranquility in the border areas are essential for developing bilateral relations," stated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the high-level bilateral talks.

Beyond security concerns, economic disparities remain a major flashpoint as China stands as India's largest trading partner. Total trade hit a record $151.1 billion for the year ending March 2026, though India's trade deficit with Beijing widened significantly to a record $112.16 billion.

To counteract economic friction, Modi and Xi committed to addressing structural trade imbalances, supply chain bottlenecks, and predictable market access. Recent months have already seen direct commercial flights resume and India ease strict investment regulations on Beijing.