Modi-Xi meet: India-China reaffirm that 'differences will not become disputes'
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for pushing Sino-Indian relations on the "right track" during his meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China. Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said both leaders reaffirmed that they won't let "differences become disputes." This is the first meeting between the leaders since the resolution of the Doklam standoff.
Met President Xi Jinping. We held fruitful talks on bilateral relations between India and China. pic.twitter.com/hbKRPpRwyl
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017
Jaishankar said both Modi and Xi had a "forward-looking" and "constructive" conversation during their meeting. "Peace and tranquility are a pre-requisite for border security... Defence personnel must be in greater touch so such differences don't occur again," he added, referring to the Doklam standoff. "At a time the world was changing, we would not let India-China relations change," Jaishankar said.
Xi said both China and India should pursue "healthy, stable bilateral ties." He described both countries as "each other's major neighbors" and "two of the world's largest and emerging countries." He reportedly told Modi that China is willing to work with India and seek guidance from the five principles of the bilateral 1954 Panchsheel Agreement, which proposed peaceful co-existence.
I thank the Chinese government & people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017
