BRICS Summit / “Partners, Not Rivals”: Xi Jinping Calls for Deeper China‑India Cooperation

New Delhi, Sep 13: At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone, telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi that China and India should be seen as “partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats, for each other’s development.”

His remarks, delivered during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, were highlighted in a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which framed the encounter as a step toward strengthening ties between the two Asian giants.

The Ministry highlighted that “in the past two years, he (President Xi Jinping) and PM Modi have met twice, guiding China-India relations from a ‘restart’ to a ‘further enhancement’.

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Institutional exchanges between the two countries have gradually resumed, the cooperation list has been continuously extended, and bilateral trade has reached a new high.”

It stressed that the two nations, despite different national conditions, can “fully learn from each other’s strengths, support each other, achieve mutual success, and develop together.”

Against the backdrop of a “complex and volatile international situation,” the Ministry said China and India, as the world’s most populous countries and key members of the Global South, “should keep the future of humanity in mind and prioritise the well-being of their people, working together to promote high-quality development of BRICS cooperation and provide more positive energy for promoting world peace, stability, development, and prosperity.”

President Xi outlined four points to advance long-term stability in bilateral ties. “First, we should calibrate our direction with an objective and rational strategic understanding. China and India are partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats, for each other’s development.

This strategic judgment is based on the development stages of both countries and the international environment, and it aligns with the common interests of both countries and their people,” the statement said.

“Second, we should achieve mutual success through win-win cooperation,” it added, urging both sides to focus on development as the “greatest common denominator.”

“Third, we should eliminate interference with the political wisdom of mutual respect and understanding. We should commit to the parallel development and mutual promotion of bilateral relations and border issues, maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas,” the Ministry noted.

“Fourth, we should benefit the world through open and inclusive multilateral cooperation,” it said, calling for India and China to support each other’s BRICS presidency, strengthen collaboration in the UN, SCO, and G20, and jointly defend “international fairness and justice.”

(IANS)