Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, with both leaders striking a notably warm tone as the two Asian giants continue working to stabilise ties strained since the deadly Galwan clashes of 2020.
Opening the meeting, PM Modi thanked Xi for Beijing’s backing of India’s BRICS chairship this year. The Chinese leader also struck a reflective note about the frequency of his meetings with PM Modi, pointing out that this was his second visit to New Delhi in twelve years, during which the pair have met more than twenty times, producing what he termed “a series of important consensuses. External Affairs Minister S. PM Modi also gave Xi a brief explanation of the Ramanathaswamy Temple backdrop chosen for the summit’s welcome ceremony. The declaration pressed for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, urged unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza, and called on all sides to observe existing ceasefire arrangements.
Beyond the bilateral talks, BRICS members unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, voicing deep concern over rising tensions in West Asia and calling for restraint to prevent further escalation.
“It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you,” he said, adding that he was grateful for “the support and cooperation received from China during India’s BRICS chairmanship. Despite their differences, Xi said, the two nations “have been able to support and help each other to achieve common development. Ahead of Xi’s arrival, China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said Beijing intended to “handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective” and to work through outstanding differences as neighbours.
Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were among the officials present for the talks, which followed a lighter moment earlier in the day when PM Modi, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were photographed holding hands and smiling together at Bharat Mandapam. Saturday’s meeting was the third consecutive year the two leaders have met face to face, following earlier encounters in Kazan and Tianjin.
Xi confirmed that China will assume the BRICS chairship next year and host the 19th summit, saying Beijing would use the role to build consensus among members.
Addressing the summit, Xi described the ongoing conflict as damaging to the entire region and said it ran counter to the wider interests of the international community. Xi called for a “permanent, comprehensive ceasefire” and pledged that China would work alongside fellow BRICS members to help restore peace in the Middle East, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. “Together, we will usher in the third golden decade of BRICS cooperation,” he said.
