Indian Prime Minister Modi extends an invitation to Chinese President Xi for BRICS 2026, set to be hosted in India.
India and China Strengthen Ties at BRICS Summit
Leaders from India and China met on the sidelines of the 17th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, marking another step forward in their bilateral relations. The two leaders noted the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that the two countries were development partners and not rivals. They emphasised that their differences should not turn into disputes. Prime Minister Modi also noted that India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country lens.
The Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, a first-of-its-kind collective BRICS commitment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, was also highlighted during the meeting.
In a significant development, Prime Minister Modi invited President Xi Jinping to the BRICS Summit that India will host in 2026. President Xi Jinping thanked Prime Minister Modi for the invitation and offered China's support to India's BRICS Presidency. The exact party who proposed the invitation, however, remains unspecified.
The leaders underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce the trade deficit. They also committed to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples.
The leaders welcomed the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting. Commitments were adopted across strategic areas, including global governance, finance, health, AI, climate change, peace and security.
Recognising the role of their two economies in stabilising world trade, the leaders also noted the need to strengthen people-to-people ties through direct flights and visa facilitation, building on the resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visa.
The leaders also acknowledged the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their Talks earlier this month, and agreed to further support their efforts. Prime Minister Modi also expressed support for China's Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
In his address, PM Modi said that during India's chairmanship of BRICS, it will take the forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first. The 17th BRICS Summit was held under the theme: "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".
The two leaders concluded their meeting with an understanding of the importance of their bilateral relations and a commitment to work together for a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous world. Their last meeting was in Russia's Kazan in 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. As India prepares to take over the leadership of BRICS from Brazil, this meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening the ties between the two nations.
