Xi and Modi spoke in fresh Delhi: cooperation, border and trade

chiny24.com 1 month ago

Zdjęcie: Xi i Modi rozmawiają w New Delhi: współpraca, granica i handel

Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi met on 12 September in fresh Delhi at the margins of the 18th BRICS Summit. This gathering took place during the first visit of the president of the PRC to India in nearly 7 years. Both parties stressed the request to make relations, but at the same time confirmed that the Himalayan border, trade imbalance and marketplace access stay subject to further discussion.

Before the summit we described the announcement of Xi Jinping's visit to IndiaWhen the gathering of both leaders was inactive being prepared. As a consequence of the preparations, a bilateral discussion took place, after which Beijing and fresh Delhi published their own communications. No fresh trade agreement or agreement was announced to end the border dispute.

Partners despite differences

The Indian abroad Ministry reported that the leaders recorded advancement in relations since the erstwhile gathering in Tianjin in August 2025. Modi identified 3 principles that, according to the Communication, should guide dialogue: common respect, common sensitivity and common interest.

"Differences should not turn into disputes," said the Indian abroad Ministry after the meeting.

The Chinese account stressed in turn that both countries are to be partners alternatively than rivals, and that the improvement of 1 side is to be treated as an opportunity, not a threat. Xi pointed out the request to deepen contacts between societies, economical cooperation and coordination within BRICS, the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20.

The gathering in fresh Delhi was another contact between both leaders after a conversation in Kazan in 2024 and Tianjin gathering in 2025. The continuity of talks at the highest level, however, does not mean that Beijing and fresh Delhi have agreed positions on all matters. Both messages agree on the request for conversation, but otherwise they spread accents.

Organisation	Communication from India	China message
Bilateral relations	Developing long-term relationships and preventing differences from escalating	Partnership alternatively of competition and common perception of improvement as opportunities
Border	Borderline peace as a basis for the improvement of relations; seeking a solution acceptable to both parties	Parallel bilateral dialog and border talks
Economy	Trade imbalance, supply chains and predictable marketplace access	Addressing common economical concerns and enhancing cooperation
International cooperation	Expanding common fields of action on regional and global issues	Co-operation in BRICS, UN, SOW and G20 and Global confederate cooperation

Border without a fresh decision

Modi stressed that peace and peace in border areas are a prerequisite for further improvement of relations. Both leaders declared to prosecute a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" border regulation.

However, this wording does not mean changing the course of the border or ending the dispute. China and India inactive disagree in the assessment of sections of the Himalayan border, and authoritative post-meeting messages do not contain maps, timetables of demarcation or fresh patrol rules.

Bilateral mechanisms are intended to reduce the hazard of field incidents. During the peculiar talks, the parties agreed on 25 August to set up a group of experts on demarcation and a separate group on border management. 2 additional places were besides announced for the commanders' talks in the rank of generals and fresh military lines of communication on the east and central sections of the border.

These are tools for current communication and voltage control. They may aid to keep peace on the border, but they do not replace the political agreement on the border.

Trade, marketplace access and supply chains

From India's perspective, trade imbalances stay the central economical theme. The Communication issued after the gathering clearly points to the request to address structural deficits, supply chain problems and to guarantee reasonable and predictable marketplace access.

Data from the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, published by the Embassy of India in Beijing, show the scale of this imbalance. In the financial year 2025/2026 trade in goods between India and China was $151.10 billion. India's exports to China reached US$19.47 billion, while Chinese imports reached US$131.63 billion. This represents an Indian deficit of USD 112.16 billion.

Trade in goods India-China in the financial year 2025/2026	Value
Exports of India to China	$19.47 billion
Imports of India from China	$113.63 billion
Total turnover	$151.10 billion
Deficit of India	USD 112.16 billion

Among the goods imported by India from China are machines, electronics, computers, integrated circuits, telecommunications parts and lithium-ion batteries. The Indian side has long advocated expanding the access of its products to the Chinese market. The talk in fresh Delhi did not bring any circumstantial limits, manufacture agreements, or deadlines, but put it clearly on the agenda of the leaders' contacts.

Common direction, different accents

The 2 relations announced the improvement of cultural, business and travel contacts between citizens. Beijing besides highlighted cooperation within the Global South and the future Chinese Presidency at BRICS in 2027; according to the Chinese message Modi declared support for this presidency. The Indian side thanked China for its contribution to its 2026 BRICS Summit.

The Chinese account besides included references to Modi's declaration on Taiwan and Tibet issues. The Indian MFA did not put it in its shorter message. The difference shows that both governments focus public communication on another elements of the conversation: fresh Delhi on the border and the economy, Beijing on broader political and multilateral cooperation.

The gathering in fresh Delhi confirmed the readiness to keep dialog and make cooperation where the interests of both countries meet. However, the sustainability of this direction will be decided not by declarations but by further discussions on the border, access to markets and the ability to resolve disputes in practice.