India-China bilateral relations should be guided by mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.
Briefing the media, Jaiswal highlighted key aspects of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
He said Prime Minister Modi raised India’s core concerns during the meeting and underlined the importance of sensitivity to each other’s core interests.
Jaiswal said both sides should be guided by the “three mutuals” — mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.
The Prime Minister also reiterated that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remain essential for the continued development of bilateral relations.
He stressed the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings relating to border issues.
India and China also reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the boundary question from a strategic and long-term political perspective, with the objective of reaching a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.
The MEA said the two leaders agreed that both countries should continue to expand common ground on regional and global issues and work together to address shared challenges.
On the boundary question, India reiterated its position that the issue should be addressed through constructive and sustained diplomatic engagement, taking into account the long-term interests of the two peoples.
The Chinese readout of the meeting described India and China as “partners rather than rivals”. However, India’s official communication maintained its focus on mutual respect, shared interests and addressing common challenges.
The Chinese readout also referred to Beijing’s positions on Taiwan and Tibet and stated that India would not allow anti-China activities on its territory. India’s official account of the meeting, meanwhile, emphasised the principle-driven framework of mutual respect, sensitivity and shared interests.
The 18th BRICS Summit was hosted at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The summit concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, which addressed a range of global issues, including geopolitical conflicts and tensions in West Asia.
