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New Delhi, Sep 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. During the meeting, the two leaders emphasised that “differences should not become disputes” and reaffirmed the need for India and China to adopt a strategic and long-term perspective towards their bilateral ties. "The two leaders welcomed the steady progress in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. They reaffirmed that both countries should take a strategic and long-term perspective on their ties. Differences should not become disputes. Prime Minister highlighted that both sides must be guided by three mutuals- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the meeting. During the meeting, PM Modi stressed that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remain an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations. "He underlined the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues. The two leaders expressed commitment 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 MEA statement added. Both leaders also took note of the progress in people-to-people ties and underscored the need to further promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries. "On economic and trade relations, they underlined the need to address each other’s concerns, including structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues, and facilitation of meaningful and predictable market access," the statement read further. According to the MEA, the two leaders agreed that both sides must continue to expand common ground on regional and global issues, and in addressing challenges. "Prime Minister appreciated China's support for India's BRICS chairship and its contributions towards the success of the BRICS Summit-2026," it concluded. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other officials were also present at the meeting. Also Read : BRICS Adopts New Delhi Declaration; Expresses Concern Over Unilateral Tariffs, Backs WTO Reform Earlier, PM Modi warmly welcomed Xi Jinping and leaders of other BRICS members at the venue of the 18th BRICS Summit, with the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram forming the backdrop for the ceremony. PM Modi was seen briefly explaining the significance of the temple backdrop to President Xi Jinping during the event. Both leaders had a brief interaction during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek on August 31. They had earlier met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin in August 2025. Xi’s visit comes as India and China continue efforts to stabilise their bilateral relationship following the deadly Galwan clashes in 2020. India has repeatedly stressed that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border remains a key prerequisite for the continued development and progress of bilateral ties. (IANS)

New Delhi, Sep 12 : The BRICS grouping of emerging economies on Saturday unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, expressing serious concern over the increasing use of unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The BRICS nations reaffirmed their "unwavering support for reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and to strengthening a non-discriminatory, open, equitable, transparent, fair, inclusive, predictable and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core". Echoing the aspirations of the Global South to fully integrate into the multilateral trading system, the declaration strongly supports Ethiopia and Iran’s bid for accession to the WTO. It acknowledges China for expanding its zero-tariff treatment to cover 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. The declaration also condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law, and reiterated that such measures, in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far-reaching negative implications for human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security, of the general population of targeted states, disproportionally affecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations, deepening the digital divide and exacerbating environmental challenges. The BRICS countries called for the elimination of such unlawful measures. With the growing share of EMDEs in global output and growth, reform of global economic governance remains a consistent BRICS priority, it said, adding that the bloc agreed to continue to strengthen coordination among BRICS members to make international financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, more representative, transparent, and accountable. The declaration calls for the need for a strong, quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at the centre of the global financial safety net to effectively support its members, particularly the most vulnerable countries. Also Read : Chinese President Xi Jinping Arrives In India To Attend 18th BRICS Summit "We urge entry into effect of the quota increases agreed under the 16th General Review of Quotas (GRQ) with no further delay and call for the development of approaches to meaningful quota realignment under the 17th GRQ at the earliest," the declaration stated. The declaration also reaffirms the 2025 World Bank Shareholding Review as a critical tool for strengthening multilateralism and enhancing the legitimacy of the World Bank Group as a better, bigger and more effective development finance institution. The BRICS countries also agreed to continue advocating greater voice and representation for developing countries, supported by a realignment of shareholding to address their historic underrepresentation. (IANS)