Beijing has stated that India and China should manage their differences appropriately and approach their relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective, ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS summit and a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that President Xi is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday for the BRICS summit, marking his first visit to India in almost seven years. A bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi is planned on the sidelines of the summit.
During a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to questions about the upcoming Modi-Xi meeting. She noted that this would be the third consecutive meeting between the two leaders, following their previous engagements in Kazan and Tianjin.
“China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed,” Mao Ning stated.
Regarding the BRICS summit, Mao described it as a crucial platform for solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. She indicated that President Xi would attend and address the summit, engaging in in-depth discussions with other leaders on significant issues including the current international situation, the development of BRICS mechanisms, and deepening practical cooperation. China intends to put forward its initiatives and propositions to guide the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation.
China expressed its readiness to collaborate with fellow BRICS nations to achieve steady and sustained progress in BRICS cooperation, contributing to the establishment of a community with a shared future for humanity. Addressing the significance of the New Delhi summit amidst global conflicts such as the Iran-US tensions and the Ukraine-Russia war, China reiterated its advocacy for a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to security. The spokesperson emphasized a commitment to promoting the political settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue and expressed anticipation of working with BRICS partners to foster dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences and jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.
President Xi’s visit is anticipated to be a significant diplomatic event, carrying implications for current efforts to stabilize bilateral ties between India and China, as well as for BRICS cooperation in a volatile global environment. India, as the current chair of the BRICS grouping, is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. This summit includes the expanded BRICS membership, which now comprises Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia slated to join in 2025.
President Xi last visited India in 2019 for an informal summit with Prime Minister Modi in Mamallapuram, near Chennai. Prior to that, he attended the BRICS summit in Goa in 2016 and made his inaugural visit to India in September 2014, engaging in extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi. Both leaders were in their first terms during the 2014 visit.
The upcoming visit is particularly noteworthy as it occurs amidst ongoing efforts by India and China to normalize relations, following a period of strained ties after the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff. In the lead-up to President Xi’s visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held substantial talks in Beijing last month. These discussions focused on the boundary issue, maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border, and exploring steps to improve bilateral relations.
During the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks held in Beijing on August 25, both sides reached an eight-point consensus. They agreed to advance discussions on achieving an early and substantial harvest concerning boundary delimitation and border management. Against the backdrop of these substantive discussions on the border and broader bilateral matters, the Modi-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit is expected to be closely observed for indications regarding the future trajectory of India-China relations.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
