China’s Xi Jinping Calls for Joint Development with India Amidst BRICS Summit

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi on Saturday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. This meeting represents the latest effort by the two neighbors to mend relations that were severely damaged by a fatal border conflict six years prior.

President Xi Jinping stated that China views its relationship with India from a “strategic and long-term perspective.” He urged both nations to leverage each other’s strengths, provide mutual support, and pursue joint development. He emphasized the importance of “effective cooperation” between China and India, noting that as key members of the “Global South,” they should contribute to promoting a multipolar world and ensuring global peace and stability.

Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for China’s cooperation in hosting the upcoming summit, with China set to host next year’s BRICS meeting. This summit marks Xi’s first visit to India since 2019 and signifies another cautious step toward improving relations between the two neighboring countries, six years after a lethal border skirmish deeply impacted their ties.

The 2020 military confrontation along the border in the cold desert region of “Ladakh” resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and 4 Chinese soldiers. This incident led to a prolonged stalemate in the mountainous and rugged area, where both sides have deployed tens of thousands of troops supported by artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.