Full Breakdown
India and China Agree to View Each Other as Partners at 2026 BRICS Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Partnership Consensus Reached
On the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on September 12-13, 2026. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later said the two leaders reached the “most important consensus” that China and India should be partners, not rivals. Both sides pledged to maintain peace and tranquillity along their disputed border and to support each other’s rotating BRICS chairmanships.
Background & Context
Relations between the world’s two most populous nations have been strained since the 2020 Galwan clash, which left dozens of soldiers dead and led to a prolonged standoff. After a “restart” of dialogue in 2024, the leaders met in Russia’s Kazan and later in Beijing, gradually moving toward a “renewed elevation” of ties. The September 2026 meeting built on those steps, aiming to translate diplomatic goodwill into concrete cooperation.
Data & Statistics
- Bilateral trade has reached record levels (exact figures not disclosed).
- The combined population of the two countries exceeds 2.8 billion people, a figure Wang Yi cited as underscoring the importance of cooperation for the Global South.
- Direct passenger flights on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route, suspended after COVID-19 and earlier border tensions, are scheduled to resume on September 21, 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
- He called for an “equal and orderly multipolar world” and highlighted the shared responsibility of the Global South.
- Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s “independent foreign policy,” stating that India will not allow any force to conduct anti-China activities on its territory and that India is ready to be a “partner, not an adversary.” He also stressed that differences should not become disputes and that the three “mutuals” – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – must guide the relationship.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar praised the BRICS summit as a showcase of India’s “strong convening power,” noting the high-level representation of other member states and the personal rapport between Modi and their leaders.
- Spokesperson Guo Jiakun (Chinese Foreign Ministry) said Beijing will work with New Delhi to implement the “important common understandings” and to “make the cooperation list longer,” covering areas such as cultural exchange, direct air connectivity, and multilateral coordination through the United Nations, SCO and G20.
Verbatim Quotes
- “President Xi said that China and India can draw on each other's strengths, support one another, help each other succeed and pursue common development,” — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang
What’s Next
- China is slated to assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2027, providing a platform for further joint initiatives.
- Both foreign ministries indicated that the leaders’ consensus will be operationalised through expanded political trust, managed differences, and continued dialogue on the border issue.
- The scheduled resumption of Guangzhou-New Delhi flights on September 21, 2026 will mark a tangible step in restoring people-to-people links.
The agreement signals a concerted effort by both capitals to shift from rivalry to partnership, with implications for regional stability, global South cooperation, and the broader multilateral architecture.