Beijing, Sept 2026 : China and India should convert the understandings reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their recent meeting in New Delhi into concrete action and explore new areas of cooperation, China’s state-run English-language newspaper China Daily said in an editorial following the conclusion of the 18th BRICS Summit.
The newspaper said that while differences between the two countries should continue to be addressed through dialogue and negotiations, both sides should also seek fresh avenues of cooperation to create positive momentum for long-term good-neighbourly coexistence.
“The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi underscored the importance of partnership and development, setting a pragmatic trajectory for Sino-Indian relations,” the editorial said.
It noted that the two leaders had highlighted the strategic importance of bilateral ties and stressed that the stability achieved in recent years demonstrated the potential for further cooperation.
“Both countries can draw on each other's strengths to pursue common development, supporting one another and helping each other succeed,” the newspaper said.
According to China Daily, meetings between Xi and Modi in recent years have contributed significantly to stabilising bilateral relations and preventing differences from affecting the broader relationship between the two Asian powers.
The newspaper also highlighted the growing economic relationship between China and India. Citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs, it said bilateral goods trade increased 12.4 per cent year-on-year to a record $155.6 billion in 2025.
It further noted that China had re-emerged as India’s largest trading partner during the 2025-26 financial year, underlining the close economic links between the two countries.
“Chinese industrial supplies underpin India's manufacturing, while India offers a vast market for Chinese goods,” the editorial said, pointing to the complementary nature of the two economies.
The newspaper cautioned against allowing mistrust and strategic competition to overshadow bilateral engagement. It argued that the trajectory of China-India relations would have implications far beyond the two countries, given their combined population of more than 2.8 billion and their influence in Asia and the wider international system.
“Against the complex international landscape characterised by rising unilateralism and bloc confrontation, steady and constructive interaction between China and India is particularly valuable and necessary,” it said.
China Daily also referred to what it described as attempts by external forces to intensify geopolitical rivalry and create divisions between Asian countries, including China and India.
In this context, the newspaper welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s reported assertion that China-India relations should not be manipulated by external geopolitical agendas and that India was willing to be a partner rather than a rival to China.
It said such an approach could help strengthen mutual trust, reduce disturbances and maintain a positive environment for continued bilateral engagement.
Xi attended the two-day 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 12 to 13. During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Modi, with both leaders discussing the future direction of India-China relations.
Following the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said the leaders welcomed the steady progress in bilateral relations since their previous meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. They agreed that both countries should adopt a strategic and long-term perspective towards their relationship.
The leaders also reiterated the principle that differences should not be allowed to become disputes. Modi stressed that the relationship should be guided by three “mutuals” — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remained an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations.
The latest statements from Beijing come amid efforts by India and China to consolidate the improvement in ties following tensions along their disputed border. While significant differences remain, including over boundary issues and trade, both sides have increasingly emphasised dialogue, stability and practical cooperation.
The China Daily editorial suggested that translating the latest political understanding into tangible cooperation would be crucial to sustaining the positive momentum and preventing bilateral relations from again being dominated by mistrust and strategic rivalry.
Disclaimer: This article is sourced from a news agency and has not been independently edited by the MaverickNews30 team. The copy has been slightly edited with AI assistance for language and presentation, without altering the original facts.
