The Modi Xi BRICS Summit meeting produced one of the clearest signals yet of a genuine reset in India-China relations. On September 12, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Xinhua described the talks as candid and in-depth, reaching an important shared conclusion: China and India should be partners.
What Xi Said at the Modi Xi BRICS Summit
Xi told Modi that China has always approached India from a strategic height and a long-term view. He noted this was their second meeting in two years, part of a steady effort to rebuild ties. Institutional exchanges have resumed. Cooperation has expanded. Bilateral trade has hit a new record high.
Xi called China and India partners for cooperation, not rivals. He said each country’s development is an opportunity for the other, not a threat. He urged both sides to pursue economic ties and border issues on parallel, reinforcing tracks, so peace can hold along the frontier.
What Modi Said at the Modi Xi BRICS Summit
Modi echoed the same message. He said India views China as a partner, not a rival, and that India’s foreign policy remains independent of outside pressure. He reaffirmed that India’s position on Taiwan and Xizang is unchanged, and that India will not allow anti-China activity on its soil.
Modi thanked China for supporting India’s hosting of the summit and pledged India’s support when China takes over the BRICS chairmanship next year. Both leaders agreed to keep working toward peace in the border areas.
Why the Modi Xi BRICS Summit Matters
As the world’s two most populous nations and leading voices of the Global South, India and China framed this meeting as a responsibility, not just a bilateral courtesy. Record trade, resumed exchanges, and aligned language on partnership suggest this reset has real momentum behind it, even as the underlying border dispute remains unresolved.