BEIJING/NEW DELHI: As India and China sought to project warmth at the leadership level, a long-standing difference over the border issue resurfaced during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.
Xi, invoking the idea of a “dragon–elephant tango” in an era of “once-in-a-century transformations,” offered four suggestions to strengthen ties: deepening strategic communication, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, accommodating each other’s concerns, and working together in multilateral forums. But he reiterated China’s position that the border dispute should not define the overall relationship.
India, however, held firm. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri stressed that Modi made it “very clear” the boundary situation directly affects bilateral relations. “The insurance policy for bilateral relations is to maintain peace and tranquility on the boundary. Even the Prime Minister has made this very clear,” Misri said.
According to India’s readout, Modi underlined that peace on the border is essential for ties to move forward. New Delhi has consistently maintained since the Ladakh standoff that “business as usual” is not possible without resolution of the boundary situation.
Still, the issue did not derail the meeting, which Modi described as fruitful. Xi also acknowledged the need for stability on the frontier, noting there had been peace since their Kazan meeting last year.
Xi framed cooperation as a historical necessity, calling India and China “the world’s two most populous nations” with a shared responsibility to uplift the Global South. “It is the right choice for both of us to be friends… and to have the dragon and the elephant dance together,” he said.
While Modi said a stable India–China relationship was vital for both a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world, Xi’s remarks referenced only the latter. Notably, the Chinese readout omitted mention of trade and terrorism, focusing instead on partnership over rivalry.
On Sunday, Modi also met senior Chinese leader Cai Qi, a close ally of Xi. Indian officials said Modi shared his vision for bilateral relations and sought support to advance it. Cai reaffirmed Beijing’s intent to deepen exchanges in line with the consensus reached between the two leaders.
