Modi and Xi reaffirm their commitment to resolving the border dispute between the two countries

 The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together to resolve their border dispute, following talks held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.

Xi's visit to New Delhi for the 11-nation BRICS summit was closely watched, as it was his first to neighboring India since 2019 and represented the most significant step yet in the cautious rapprochement between the two rival nuclear powers.

"Although our two countries have many differences, they are fully capable of complementing each other's strengths, supporting each other, achieving mutual success, and moving forward together," Xi said during his meeting with Modi, according to a video released from New Delhi.

In a statement following the meeting, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that "the two leaders expressed their commitment to finding a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solution to the border issue."

The statement added that Modi "emphasized the need for both sides to abide by existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues." The Chinese president's visit comes six years after a bloody military standoff on the disputed border between the two countries.

Since then, relations between the two sides have gradually improved, with the resumption of flights, the issuance of visas, and increased high-level contacts.

However, the underlying territorial dispute remains unresolved, with both sides maintaining a large military presence along their disputed, high-altitude border, which stretches for approximately 3,500 kilometers along the Tibetan region.

Dozens of Tibetans demonstrated in New Delhi on Friday, holding banners against Xi's visit, according to an AFP photographer. Many Tibetans live in exile, including their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled to India to escape a Chinese crackdown in 1959.

"Differences should not escalate into conflicts," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

It added that Modi "emphasized the need for both sides to be guided by three mutual principles: mutual respect, consideration of each other's sensitivities, and pursuit of common interests."

The meeting between Xi and Modi also touched on trade issues.

China has now become India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods reaching $151 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to Indian government data.

However, the trade balance is heavily skewed in Beijing's favor, with India importing $131 billion worth of Chinese goods compared to only $19 billion in exports, resulting in a record trade deficit of $112 billion.

Xi said, "Both sides should work hand in hand to promote high-quality, substantial financial cooperation, uphold a fair and sustainable global order, and promote an open and inclusive economic globalization."

In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders "emphasized the need to address each other's concerns, including trade imbalances and supply chain issues, and to facilitate effective market access."