<p>A video from the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi went viral on social media, showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking Chinese President Xi Jinping, “Is it okay?” Several media reports claimed that PM Modi asked Xi the question because the Chinese president appeared uncomfortable during the summit and did not feel well. Meanwhile, several social media posts and reports claimed that many world leaders who attended the high-stakes summit in New Delhi fell ill after their India visit. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has fact-checked the claims. WION explains what really happened at the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13.</p><h2><strong>What did media reports, social media posts claim?</strong></h2><p>Media reports claimed that the Chinese president appeared uncomfortable right before PM Modi announced the official opening of the BRICS Summit 2026. In a video shared widely on social media, in which Xi is not visible, PM Modi can be seen pausing his speech and checking on the Chinese leader. “Is it okay?” he asks. After a brief pause, PM Modi continues his BRICS address. According to media reports, Xi was also absent from the gala dinner hosted by PM Modi on the night of September 12. In the videos, PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders were seen arriving for the dinner, but Xi was not seen.</p><p>The speculation later broadened beyond Xi. Reports and social media posts claimed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had also fallen ill after the summit, with some posts suggesting that multiple leaders had been affected during or after their India visit.</p><h2><strong>Fact check: What really happened at BRICS Summit 2026?</strong></h2><p>After the viral claims, a new video has emerged from Russian state broadcaster Rossiya 1, which captures the Modi-Xi ‘is it okay?’ moment from a different angle. The alternate footage does not show Xi appearing visibly unwell. Instead, officials can be seen attending to what appears to be an issue with his translation earpiece. It is then that PM Modi pauses his speech and asks Xi whether ‘it was okay’, possibly asking if the technical problem was resolved rather than asking about his health.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Claims that Xi Jinping fainted or had a stroke at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi turned out to be fake. <br><br>India&#39;s MEA issued an official &quot;Fake Alert&quot;, calling the posts &quot;malicious.&quot; <br><br>The rumors originated from a Chinese exile opposition figure and spread after Xi skipped a gala… <a href="https://t.co/UXG8Kdyecd">pic.twitter.com/UXG8Kdyecd</a></p>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2100564067777650908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Meanwhile, the MEA debunked the reports of world leaders falling ill at the summit as “misleading” and “malicious”. In a post on X, the ministry urged people to remain cautious against such social media claims and reports.</p><p>“Misleading! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!” the MEA said on X.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">⚠️ Misleading!<br><br>We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms! <a href="https://t.co/YvsNEQ3Jy2">pic.twitter.com/YvsNEQ3Jy2</a></p>&mdash; MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) <a href="https://x.com/MEAFactCheck/status/2100458620978868383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

PM Modi’s interaction with Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit 2026 went viral, alongside claims about leaders falling ill after the New Delhi summit. A separate video offered a new perspective on the moment. Here’s what we know.

A video from the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi went viral on social media, showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking Chinese President Xi Jinping, “Is it okay?” Several media reports claimed that PM Modi asked Xi the question because the Chinese president appeared uncomfortable during the summit and did not feel well. Meanwhile, several social media posts and reports claimed that many world leaders who attended the high-stakes summit in New Delhi fell ill after their India visit. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has fact-checked the claims. WION explains what really happened at the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13. What did media reports, social media posts claim? Media reports claimed that the Chinese president appeared uncomfortable right before PM Modi announced the official opening of the BRICS Summit 2026. In a video shared widely on social media, in which Xi is not visible, PM Modi can be seen pausing his speech and checking on the Chinese leader. “Is it okay?” he asks. After a brief pause, PM Modi continues his BRICS address. According to media reports, Xi was also absent from the gala dinner hosted by PM Modi on the night of September 12. In the videos, PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other leaders were seen arriving for the dinner, but Xi was not seen. The speculation later broadened beyond Xi. Reports and social media posts claimed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had also fallen ill after the summit, with some posts suggesting that multiple leaders had been affected during or after their India visit. Fact check: What really happened at BRICS Summit 2026? After the viral claims, a new video has emerged from Russian state broadcaster Rossiya 1, which captures the Modi-Xi ‘is it okay?’ moment from a different angle. The alternate footage does not show Xi appearing visibly unwell. Instead, officials can be seen attending to what appears to be an issue with his translation earpiece. It is then that PM Modi pauses his speech and asks Xi whether ‘it was okay’, possibly asking if the technical problem was resolved rather than asking about his health.

<p>PM Modi’s interaction with Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit 2026 went viral, alongside claims about leaders falling ill after the New Delhi summit. A separate video offered a new perspective on the moment. Here’s what we know.</p>

FACT CHECK: Why did PM Modi ask Xi ‘is it okay’ at BRICS Summit? New video reveals...

<p>As the 18th BRICS Summit takes place in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen holding hands, sharing hugs and smiles with world leaders from Russia, China and Iran. The Summit comes at a time amid heightened geopolitical tensions and challenging times for several nations as they reel from the effects of wars in West Asia and Europe. Visuals from the high-stakes summit went viral, showing PM Modi sharing moments with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.</p><p>While language may be a barrier for the leaders, the leaders seem to connect well with each other, sharing a bond and sending a strong message to the rest of the world. Here’s what body language expert Gaurav Gill told WION.</p><h2><strong>PM Modi and Xi</strong></h2><p>Speaking about a video showing PM Modi welcoming Xi at the summit, Gill said the two leaders’ body language shows authority, confidence, interest, and respect.</p><p>“When he (PM Modi) goes ahead and welcomes him (Chinese President Xi), he extends his hand first, and then that’s a sign of welcoming, and there is clear authority,” Gill said.</p><p>He further explains, “When he brings him here, you see... When the Chinese president is standing and listening, he puts both hands at the back. That is a sign of respect and interest in what has been delivered to him.”</p><p>“Also when he’s standing, there is distance between his feet that speaks of authority. A similar thing can be seen for our Indian PM; there’s a lot of confidence and authority as they shake hands, and as they go, PM Modi shows him the way and we see Xi Jinping also smiling along. He makes eye contact.”</p><p>Gill says Xi’s body language shows that there is a strong reason why he has come to India after seven years.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WIONAtBRICS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONAtBRICS</a> | The power frame of 2026<br><br>PM Modi, Xi and Putin lock hands together<br><br>The ultimate photo-op of the 18th BRICS Summit<br><br>Consultant psychologist and Body language expert, <a href="https://x.com/GauravG39565221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GauravG39565221</a> joins <a href="https://x.com/Mohammed11Saleh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mohammed11Saleh</a> with more insights <a href="https://t.co/6X5UNBVsH5">pic.twitter.com/6X5UNBVsH5</a></p>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2098756932459000304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><strong>PM Modi and Pezeshkian</strong></h2><p>Speaking about the image showing PM Modi holding hands with Iranian President Pezeshkian, Gill explained that the gesture conveyed that India is standing with Iran in difficult times.</p><p>“When you hold hands with each other, it generates a chemical, oxytocin. It is a bond-generating chemical. It also speaks of close proximity, and it says we are standing with you, especially when the times are difficult,” he said.</p><p>Gill said that it also conveys a message of building resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. He added that it shows that India is standing by the allies and also sends a strong message to the rest of the world.</p><h2><strong>What PM Modi’s handshakes mean?</strong></h2><p>Gill said that all handshakes shared by PM Modi show personal chemistry and also speak of warmth. It also shows that we are looking at dialogue and a close connection.</p><p>“How BRICS was born was originally with Brazil, Russia, India and China. How it grew to 11 nations sends a strong message to other countries. Our Indian PM holding hands and shaking hands is also sending a msg that we are keeping them close and we are forming a bond, and now this has grown to 11 countries. So that is sending a message,” Gill said. “There was a tree plantation together, which was to send a message that it was a sapling earlier; now it will grow into a bigger bond, and it will form into a strong multilateral and multiple coalition over a period of time.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

At the BRICS Summit, Modi’s hugs, handshakes and smiles with Xi, Putin and Pezeshkian went viral. Body language expert decoded the gestures and their diplomatic message.

As the 18th BRICS Summit takes place in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen holding hands, sharing hugs and smiles with world leaders from Russia, China and Iran. The Summit comes at a time amid heightened geopolitical tensions and challenging times for several nations as they reel from the effects of wars in West Asia and Europe. Visuals from the high-stakes summit went viral, showing PM Modi sharing moments with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. While language may be a barrier for the leaders, the leaders seem to connect well with each other, sharing a bond and sending a strong message to the rest of the world. Here’s what body language expert Gaurav Gill told WION. PM Modi and Xi Speaking about a video showing PM Modi welcoming Xi at the summit, Gill said the two leaders’ body language shows authority, confidence, interest, and respect. “When he (PM Modi) goes ahead and welcomes him (Chinese President Xi), he extends his hand first, and then that’s a sign of welcoming, and there is clear authority,” Gill said. He further explains, “When he brings him here, you see... When the Chinese president is standing and listening, he puts both hands at the back. That is a sign of respect and interest in what has been delivered to him.” “Also when he’s standing, there is distance between his feet that speaks of authority. A similar thing can be seen for our Indian PM; there’s a lot of confidence and authority as they shake hands, and as they go, PM Modi shows him the way and we see Xi Jinping also smiling along. He makes eye contact.” Gill says Xi’s body language shows that there is a strong reason why he has come to India after seven years.

<p>At the BRICS Summit, Modi’s hugs, handshakes and smiles with Xi, Putin and Pezeshkian went viral. Body language expert decoded the gestures and their diplomatic message.</p>

What do PM Modi’s hugs, handshakes with leaders at BRICS mean? Body language expert decodes

As Indian PM Narendra Modi visits China, here is what you should know about Tianjin, the city hostim him for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit 2025
 

<p>Tianjin, the host city of this year's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, is known for its blend of Chinese and Western architecture, its role as a major global port, and its cultural heritage. As Indian PM Modi landed for SCO, here is what you should know about Tinjian<br>&nbsp;</p>

Modi lands at Tianjin for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit 2025: Here are 7 things to know about the Chinese city

<p>China's People's Liberation Army(PLA) has said that its ties with the Indian military is "improving" and thanked the efforts of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping for the improvement.</p>

<p>China's defence spokesperson colonel Wu Qian said: "Thanks to the efforts of the two heads of the state, the military relationship is improving and two countries maintain strategic dialogues and conduct practical cooperation, and also strengthen their exchanges along their borders".</p>

<p>The statement comes days after the two militaries concluded the eight round of their 'Hand-in-Hand-2019’ joint exercise in Shillong on December 21. The exercise was aimed at building and promoting positive relations between both the armies.</p>

<p>The defence spokesman said that the PLA was willing to work together with India to protect regional stability and fight terrorism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China's latest statement comes after both militaries were recently were engaged in a 73-day standoff at Dokhlam in 2017. The two countries have since hit the reset button to some extent. In 1962, the two nations had fought a bitter war leading to tensions on the border for decades.</p>

<p>However, in the past two years, there have been moves towards finding common ground between the two countries. President Xi had hosted Prime Minister Modi for an informal summit in Wuhan in April 2018 which was followed by the informal talks between the two leaders in Mamallapuram this year.</p>

<p>The recent military exercise between the two countries was meant to enhance relationship between the two armies and to focus on counter-terrorist handling and firing with each others’ weapons, battle obstacles course, special heliborne operations and case studies of various operations carried out in the counter-terrorist environment.</p>

<p>Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and India.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


China's People's Liberation Army(PLA) has said that its ties with the Indian military is "improving" and thanked the efforts of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping for the improvement.

China's People's Liberation Army(PLA) has said that its ties with the Indian military is "improving" and thanked the efforts of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping for the improvement. China's defence spokesperson colonel Wu Qian said: "Thanks to the efforts of the two heads of the state, the military relationship is improving and two countries maintain strategic dialogues and conduct practical cooperation, and also strengthen their exchanges along their borders". The statement comes days after the two militaries concluded the eight round of their 'Hand-in-Hand-2019’ joint exercise in Shillong on December 21. The exercise was aimed at building and promoting positive relations between both the armies. The defence spokesman said that the PLA was willing to work together with India to protect regional stability and fight terrorism. China's latest statement comes after both militaries were recently were engaged in a 73-day standoff at Dokhlam in 2017. The two countries have since hit the reset button to some extent. In 1962, the two nations had fought a bitter war leading to tensions on the border for decades. However, in the past two years, there have been moves towards finding common ground between the two countries. President Xi had hosted Prime Minister Modi for an informal summit in Wuhan in April 2018 which was followed by the informal talks between the two leaders in Mamallapuram this year. The recent military exercise between the two countries was meant to enhance relationship between the two armies and to focus on counter-terrorist handling and firing with each others’ weapons, battle obstacles course, special heliborne operations and case studies of various operations carried out in the counter-terrorist environment. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and India.

Military ties improving with India due to efforts of Modi, Xi: China army

In this video know about the big takeaways & agendas of PM Modi-Xi Jingping's 2nd informal summit.

Big takeaways & agendas of 2nd Indo-China informal summit

In this video know, What went unnoticed during Modi-Xinping's informal summit? Watch this video for more details.

What went unnoticed during Modi-Xinping's informal summit?

In this segment of WION, know key takeaways from the Modi-Xi Informal Summit. Watch this video to know more.

Modi-Xi Informal Summit: Key takeaways

Indian Foreign Secretary briefed media on Modi-Xi Informal Summit. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "India is ready for an informal summit with China again in the future". According to him the issue of Kashmir was not raised and discussed. Watch this video to know more.

Indian Foreign secretary: Issue of Kashmir not raised and discussed

Indian Foreign Secretary briefed media on Modi-Xi Informal Summit. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "India is ready for an informal summit with China again in the future". Watch this video to know more.

Indian Foreign Secretary briefs media on Modi-Xi Informal Summit

<p>PM Modi will be meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov.</p>

<p>The Indian prime minister will be landing in the central<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-leaves-for-sco-summit-in-kyrgyzstan-avoids-pakistan-airspace-226690"> Asian country post-2:30pm (IST) </a>and will have bilateral talks with leaders of China, Russia and Afghanistan today and an informal dinner with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan.</p>

<p>On the first day, PM Modi will be meeting&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be his first meeting with Chinese President Xi this year and first meet since the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist by the United Nations. Later this year the Chinese President will be visiting India for the second informal summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With Iran, focus will be on import of Iranian oil as the US has done away with&nbsp;waivers after sanctions came into effect.</p>

<p>This is the first multilateral summit PM Modi will be attending after the elections.</p>

<p>In a pre-departure statement ahead of SCO summit, PM said, "We attach special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region."</p>

<p>PM Modi will not be using the Pakistani airspace for his Kyrgyzstan visit and will be using airspace of Oman, Iran and central Asian countries to reach the country.</p>

<p>Air India has confirmed that the route does not cross Pakistani airspace in any way. India had explored two options for the route to be taken by PM's aircraft to Bishkek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The SCO represents 42 per cent of the world’s population, 22 per cent of its land area and 20 per cent of its GDP and New Delhi sees it as a platform to engage with central Asian countries.</p>


PM Modi will be meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

PM Modi will be meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. The Indian prime minister will be landing in the central Asian country post-2:30pm (IST) and will have bilateral talks with leaders of China, Russia and Afghanistan today and an informal dinner with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan. On the first day, PM Modi will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be his first meeting with Chinese President Xi this year and first meet since the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist by the United Nations. Later this year the Chinese President will be visiting India for the second informal summit. With Iran, focus will be on import of Iranian oil as the US has done away with waivers after sanctions came into effect. This is the first multilateral summit PM Modi will be attending after the elections. In a pre-departure statement ahead of SCO summit, PM said, "We attach special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region." PM Modi will not be using the Pakistani airspace for his Kyrgyzstan visit and will be using airspace of Oman, Iran and central Asian countries to reach the country. Air India has confirmed that the route does not cross Pakistani airspace in any way. India had explored two options for the route to be taken by PM's aircraft to Bishkek. The SCO represents 42 per cent of the world’s population, 22 per cent of its land area and 20 per cent of its GDP and New Delhi sees it as a platform to engage with central Asian countries.

SCO summit: PM Modi set to meet President Xi, Putin today

Indian Foreign ministry briefs media before SCO Summit, Modi-Xi to meet on sidelines of SCO summit

Indian Foreign ministry briefs media before SCO Summit

<p>The White House said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/on-labour-day-india-china-troops-meet-at-the-border-exchange-sweets-134113">that PM Modi and Chinese President Xi </a>Jinping's meeting last week when they met for an "informal summit" was a "good thing".</p>

<p>"I certainly think it's always good when other world leaders are getting along," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.</p>

<p>Modi and Xi met for<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-wont-force-india-to-accept-belt-and-road-project-says-chinese-vice-foreign-minister-133409"> two days last week in Wuhan </a>as the two leaders agreed to improve ties understand each other's point of view on military and civilian matters, especially along the Line of Actual Control(LAC).</p>

<p>"And, certainly, when we can cooperate, that's definitely a good thing. We have a great relationship with both countries and hope to continue to do so," Sanders told reporters at the news briefing.</p>

<p>US's reaction comes even as the Trump administration is engaged in trade talks with China after the US president imposed stiff tariffs against Chinese goods last month. The US trade team arrived in Beijing on Thursday as Trump said his country was seeking trying to negotiate a "level playing field on trade".</p>

<p>A week after Xi and Modi meeting at Wuhan, the two countries decided to setup a military "hotline" similar to the one between DGMos of India and Pakistan. The move was part of Xi and Modi's &nbsp"strategic guidance" to their forces in order to defuse tensions along the Line of Actual Control(LAC).</p>

<p>The hotline was already in the works since 2013 and was endorsed by Modi during his visit to China in 2015. Both sides decided to take up joint projects in Afghanistan as India and China tried to find common ground in South Asia.</p>


Modi and Xi met for two days last week in Wuhan as the two leaders agreed to improve ties

The White House said today that PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting last week when they met for an "informal summit" was a "good thing". "I certainly think it's always good when other world leaders are getting along," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Modi and Xi met for two days last week in Wuhan as the two leaders agreed to improve ties understand each other's point of view on military and civilian matters, especially along the Line of Actual Control(LAC). "And, certainly, when we can cooperate, that's definitely a good thing. We have a great relationship with both countries and hope to continue to do so," Sanders told reporters at the news briefing. US's reaction comes even as the Trump administration is engaged in trade talks with China after the US president imposed stiff tariffs against Chinese goods last month. The US trade team arrived in Beijing on Thursday as Trump said his country was seeking trying to negotiate a "level playing field on trade". A week after Xi and Modi meeting at Wuhan, the two countries decided to setup a military "hotline" similar to the one between DGMos of India and Pakistan. The move was part of Xi and Modi's "strategic guidance" to their forces in order to defuse tensions along the Line of Actual Control(LAC). The hotline was already in the works since 2013 and was endorsed by Modi during his visit to China in 2015. Both sides decided to take up joint projects in Afghanistan as India and China tried to find common ground in South Asia.

Modi-Xi meeting a good thing, always good when world leaders get along: White House

<p>As Indian Prime Minister gets ready <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-wuhan-modi-xi-to-have-heart-to-heart-discussions-chinese-vp-xuanyou-132965">to meet Chinese President Xi at Wuhan</a>, the city is all set to host the two world leaders.</p>

<p>The meeting dubbed as&nbsp;"informal" is being seen as a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-you-need-to-know-about-wuhan-the-venue-for-informal-modi-xi-meet-132911">significant turn in India-China relations </a>after the 73-day standoff&nbsp;over Doklam last year.</p>

<p>"It is quite possible that they might talk about their views of how each of their countries is going to develop in the coming 15 or 20 years," Gautam Bambawale, Indian ambassador to China, said.</p>

<p>The last time PM Modi had met President Xi was in China's eastern city of Xiamen for the BRICS summit. This time the two leaders will&nbsp;engage in "candid dialogue" over pressing issues, however, no official statement or MoU will be signed by either country over the next two days during the summit.</p>

<p>The Indian ambassador conceded that there would be "no set agenda for their talks", although the two leaders might take a boat ride or walk in the park at Wuhan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They might talk about the current world situation and in what directions the world is progressing. They might talk about how India views China and how China views India," the Indian ambassador said.</p>

<p>The ambassador added that the Modi and Xi will meet in an informal, friendly setting as they discuss various issues. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When two leaders of big countries meet, then they don’t talk about specific micro issues,"&nbsp;Bambawale said, adding,"India, China will be&nbsp;setting a new trend with the informal meeting."</p>


The meeting dubbed as an "informal" is being seen as a significant turn in India-China relations

As Indian Prime Minister gets ready to meet Chinese President Xi at Wuhan, the city is all set to host the two world leaders. The meeting dubbed as "informal" is being seen as a significant turn in India-China relations after the 73-day standoff over Doklam last year. "It is quite possible that they might talk about their views of how each of their countries is going to develop in the coming 15 or 20 years," Gautam Bambawale, Indian ambassador to China, said. The last time PM Modi had met President Xi was in China's eastern city of Xiamen for the BRICS summit. This time the two leaders will engage in "candid dialogue" over pressing issues, however, no official statement or MoU will be signed by either country over the next two days during the summit. The Indian ambassador conceded that there would be "no set agenda for their talks", although the two leaders might take a boat ride or walk in the park at Wuhan. "They might talk about the current world situation and in what directions the world is progressing. They might talk about how India views China and how China views India," the Indian ambassador said. The ambassador added that the Modi and Xi will meet in an informal, friendly setting as they discuss various issues. "When two leaders of big countries meet, then they don’t talk about specific micro issues," Bambawale said, adding,"India, China will be setting a new trend with the informal meeting."

India, China setting new trend with informal meeting: Gautam Bambawale, Indian ambassador to China

<p>Ahead of PM Modi and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-wuhan-modi-xi-to-have-heart-to-heart-discussions-chinese-vp-xuanyou-132965">President Xi's meeting at Wuhan</a>, Pakistan said its friendship with China "time-tested" based on mutual trust and convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and international issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan's foreign office said relations with China are not aimed against any country. Pakistan and China continue to engage regularly on all matters of mutual interest, it said.</p>

<p>PM Modi is set to engage President Xi at Wuhan over two days at Wuhan with both leaders set to discuss matters in an informal environment which is being keenly watched by South Asia experts, including by leaders in Indian and Pakistan.</p>

<p>"We fully endorse foreign minister Wang Yi's recent statement that China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership is not only valuable treasure of the two countries, but also stands as an example for building new type international relations," the foreign office said, adding that "bilateral relations remain a priority" in the foreign policy of both countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the impending visit, India's ambassador to China, said the two leaders might talk about the current world situation mainly aimed at understanding each other better.</p>

<p>"We resolutely support each other’s core and major interests, strengthen collaboration on international and regional affairs to build China-Pakistan community of common destiny," Pakistan said in a statement.</p>

<p>The Pakistan foreign office added that Pak ministers had recently met top Chinese officials in Beijing including the Chinese vice-president in Beijing.</p>

<p><iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgaIuLLCHeY" width="560"></iframe></p>


PM Modi is set to engage President Xi at Wuhan over two days at Wuhan

Ahead of PM Modi and President Xi's meeting at Wuhan, Pakistan said its friendship with China "time-tested" based on mutual trust and convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and international issues. Pakistan's foreign office said relations with China are not aimed against any country. Pakistan and China continue to engage regularly on all matters of mutual interest, it said. PM Modi is set to engage President Xi at Wuhan over two days at Wuhan with both leaders set to discuss matters in an informal environment which is being keenly watched by South Asia experts, including by leaders in Indian and Pakistan. "We fully endorse foreign minister Wang Yi's recent statement that China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership is not only valuable treasure of the two countries, but also stands as an example for building new type international relations," the foreign office said, adding that "bilateral relations remain a priority" in the foreign policy of both countries. Talking about the impending visit, India's ambassador to China, said the two leaders might talk about the current world situation mainly aimed at understanding each other better. "We resolutely support each other’s core and major interests, strengthen collaboration on international and regional affairs to build China-Pakistan community of common destiny," Pakistan said in a statement. The Pakistan foreign office added that Pak ministers had recently met top Chinese officials in Beijing including the Chinese vice-president in Beijing.

'Relations with China 'time-tested,' says Pak ahead of Modi-Xi summit

<p>By: Siddhant Sibbal</p>

<p>In what seems to be blessings by his holiness Dalai Lama, the Tibetian spiritual leader has said that Modi-Xi talks are a welcome step. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Dalai Lama said "use of force is outdated. Must meet people and talk. Realistically speaking neither India&nbsp;nor China can destroy each other. You have to live side by side."&nbsp;He was speaking at IIT Delhi.</p>

<p>The Indian Prime minister will be meeting President of China Xi Jinping in Wuhan for an informal summit on 26th and 27th.&nbsp;The informal summit will see no joint statement or communique being issued and both the leaders will have "strategic conversation" on larger and broader issues.</p>

<p>Dalai Lama's comments matter more since in recent months advisory has been issued by MEA for restricting officials to interact with him. New Delhi has been trying to assuage some of China's concerns about Dalai Lama. Events marking his exile had been shifted to Dharamshala from New Delhi.</p>

<p>Speaking at the same event Dalai Lama lauded India's religious harmony and said India is an example of how all&nbsp;religions&nbsp;can stay in peace. He also added that Tibet has the right to preserve its own language and culture while staying in China.</p>

<p>Dalai Lama has been a thorny issue for China and Bejing has been vocal about it and even taking strict action against countries hosting him.&nbsp;But his presence in India is an irritant to Bejing and a reminder that its control over Tibet will always be questioned.</p>


The Indian Prime minister will be meeting President of China Xi Jinping in Wuhan for an informal summit on 26th and 27th

By: Siddhant Sibbal In what seems to be blessings by his holiness Dalai Lama, the Tibetian spiritual leader has said that Modi-Xi talks are a welcome step. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Dalai Lama said "use of force is outdated. Must meet people and talk. Realistically speaking neither India nor China can destroy each other. You have to live side by side." He was speaking at IIT Delhi. The Indian Prime minister will be meeting President of China Xi Jinping in Wuhan for an informal summit on 26th and 27th. The informal summit will see no joint statement or communique being issued and both the leaders will have "strategic conversation" on larger and broader issues. Dalai Lama's comments matter more since in recent months advisory has been issued by MEA for restricting officials to interact with him. New Delhi has been trying to assuage some of China's concerns about Dalai Lama. Events marking his exile had been shifted to Dharamshala from New Delhi. Speaking at the same event Dalai Lama lauded India's religious harmony and said India is an example of how all religions can stay in peace. He also added that Tibet has the right to preserve its own language and culture while staying in China. Dalai Lama has been a thorny issue for China and Bejing has been vocal about it and even taking strict action against countries hosting him. But his presence in India is an irritant to Bejing and a reminder that its control over Tibet will always be questioned.

Dalai Lama gives his blessing to 'Modi-Xi' meet

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not sign any agreements or issue a joint statement at the Wuhan summit this week but they will try to build mutual trust and reach important consensus to resolve the outstanding issues, a top Chinese official said today.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi will travel to China on April 27 for an informal summit with President Xi in the central China's Wuhan city.</p>

<p>"Both sides have agreed not to sign an agreement or release any joint document but reach important consensus to resolve outstanding issues," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told the media here on the two-day summit.&nbsp</p>

<p>This informal summit is the first of its kind and there is no precedent in each other's country, he said, explaining why both the leaders opted to hold the summit.</p>

<p>"At the informal summit, the two leaders will have heart-to-heart discussions on overarching issues and try to build mutual trust and consensus to resolve outstanding differences," Kong said.</p>

<p>Asked whether the Doklam issue and the boundary dispute will figure in the talks, Kong said Doklam happened because of lack of trust.</p>

<p>"The two countries need to create conditions and trust between them to resolve the boundary issue," he added.</p>


Prime Minister Modi will travel to China on April 27 for an informal summit with President Xi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not sign any agreements or issue a joint statement at the Wuhan summit this week but they will try to build mutual trust and reach important consensus to resolve the outstanding issues, a top Chinese official said today. Prime Minister Modi will travel to China on April 27 for an informal summit with President Xi in the central China's Wuhan city. "Both sides have agreed not to sign an agreement or release any joint document but reach important consensus to resolve outstanding issues," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told the media here on the two-day summit. This informal summit is the first of its kind and there is no precedent in each other's country, he said, explaining why both the leaders opted to hold the summit. "At the informal summit, the two leaders will have heart-to-heart discussions on overarching issues and try to build mutual trust and consensus to resolve outstanding differences," Kong said. Asked whether the Doklam issue and the boundary dispute will figure in the talks, Kong said Doklam happened because of lack of trust. "The two countries need to create conditions and trust between them to resolve the boundary issue," he added.

Modi-Xi will not sign agreements at Wuhan Summit but build trust to resolve bilateral issues: China

<p>Welcoming the upcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said the two countries do not have the ability to destroy each other and they have to live side by side since they are neighbours.</p>

<p>The Dalai Lama made these remarks while delivering a convocation lecture at Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in New Delhi.</p>

<p>"I always insist, neither China nor India has ability to destroy (each) other. We have to live side by side, then (it is) much better to live friendly," the 82-year-old Tibetan spiritual head said.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to be held in Wuhan city of central China on April 27 and 28.</p>

<p>Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the development in a joint press conference, which he addressed along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday.</p>

<p>While answering a question on autonomy, he hinted that if China accepts their demand, exiled Tibetans may choose to live over there.</p>

<p>In China, Buddhist population is 400 million and many Chinese Buddhists are now already showing interest in Tibetan Buddhism, he said.</p>

<p>The Dalai Lama further called upon educationists to make policies regarding the inclusion of the ancient knowledge of the Indian traditions into the academic curriculum while saying, "some state (could) start it at an experimental level and then we will see."</p>

<p>The Dalai Lama along with his followers fled to India from Tibet in 1959 after a massive uprising failed against the Chinese forces.&nbsp</p>


While answering a question on autonomy, Dalai Lama hinted that if China accepts their demand, exiled Tibetans may choose to live over there

Welcoming the upcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said the two countries do not have the ability to destroy each other and they have to live side by side since they are neighbours. The Dalai Lama made these remarks while delivering a convocation lecture at Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in New Delhi. "I always insist, neither China nor India has ability to destroy (each) other. We have to live side by side, then (it is) much better to live friendly," the 82-year-old Tibetan spiritual head said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to be held in Wuhan city of central China on April 27 and 28. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the development in a joint press conference, which he addressed along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday. While answering a question on autonomy, he hinted that if China accepts their demand, exiled Tibetans may choose to live over there. In China, Buddhist population is 400 million and many Chinese Buddhists are now already showing interest in Tibetan Buddhism, he said. The Dalai Lama further called upon educationists to make policies regarding the inclusion of the ancient knowledge of the Indian traditions into the academic curriculum while saying, "some state (could) start it at an experimental level and then we will see." The Dalai Lama along with his followers fled to India from Tibet in 1959 after a massive uprising failed against the Chinese forces.

Dalai Lama welcomes Modi-Xi informal summit

<p>Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank specialising on South Asia in a paper presented recently <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-to-build-new-nuclear-reactor-in-pakistan-report-25055">said China is now &quot;India&#39;s primary source</a> of strategic&nbsp;envy&quot;, stating that India does not believe that China poses a &quot;compelling threat&quot; to its security.</p>

<p>The think tank in its article said<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-envoy-offers-china-mum-on-whether-itll-rename-cpec-24973"> India has steadily diluted its commitment </a>to an &quot;unambiguous nuclear first use(NFU) policy&nbsp;over the last fourteen years.&quot;</p>

<p>The article under the header: Asia in the &quot;second nuclear age&quot; wrote, &quot;in 2003, for example, an Indian government document listed an adversary&rsquo;s use of chemical or biological weapons as a triggering condition for the potential first use of nuclear weapons,&quot; adding,&quot;the issue of whether India has privately abandoned NFU, or will do so soon, is an unknown for even better-informed observers in New Delhi.&quot;</p>

<p>The think tank said senior Indian national security officials also indicate that India is &quot;rethinking its limited-conventional-war strategy against Pakistan&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;In the case of ballistic missiles, warheads will very likely be mated to the missiles during emergency flushing-out routines,&quot; the think tank concluded. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Atlantic Council said China is the only &quot;nuclear power among the three which is actually modernizing&quot;&nbsp;replacing ageing delivery systems with newer and better designs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The think tank said neither India nor Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests to develop or improve designs for nuclear warheads. The same holds for China.</p>

<p>However, the think tank cautioned that Pakistan is rapidly &quot;accumulating fissile material, which could increase to four hundred and fifty kilograms of&nbsp;plutonium, sufficient for ninety weapons, and more than 2,500 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU), sufficient for one hundred simple&nbsp;fission warheads by 2020.&quot;</p>

<p>The nuclear rivalry in South Asia remains ominous, because Pakistan wages LIC against India via non-state actors, while India has devised &quot;limited conventional-war options&quot; to punish the Pakistani military on Pakistani soil, the think tank observed.</p>

<p>The big difference between the &quot;first and second nuclear ages&quot; is the domestic stability of the nuclear-weapon powers, it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;In Asia&nbsp;- China and India represent this continuity of strong state institutions, as well as checks and balances on the military.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Atlantic Council said Pakistan remains &quot;internally unstable, and increasingly unable to rein in &#39;praetorianism&#39;&nbsp;over national security and&nbsp;nuclear policy.&quot;</p>


The think tank in its article said India has steadily diluted its commitment to an "unambiguous Nuclear first use(NFU) policy"?over the last fourteen years.

Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank specialising on South Asia in a paper presented recently said China is now "India's primary source of strategic envy", stating that India does not believe that China poses a "compelling threat" to its security. The think tank in its article said India has steadily diluted its commitment to an "unambiguous nuclear first use(NFU) policy over the last fourteen years." The article under the header: Asia in the "second nuclear age" wrote, "in 2003, for example, an Indian government document listed an adversary’s use of chemical or biological weapons as a triggering condition for the potential first use of nuclear weapons," adding,"the issue of whether India has privately abandoned NFU, or will do so soon, is an unknown for even better-informed observers in New Delhi." The think tank said senior Indian national security officials also indicate that India is "rethinking its limited-conventional-war strategy against Pakistan". "In the case of ballistic missiles, warheads will very likely be mated to the missiles during emergency flushing-out routines," the think tank concluded. The Atlantic Council said China is the only "nuclear power among the three which is actually modernizing" replacing ageing delivery systems with newer and better designs. The think tank said neither India nor Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests to develop or improve designs for nuclear warheads. The same holds for China. However, the think tank cautioned that Pakistan is rapidly "accumulating fissile material, which could increase to four hundred and fifty kilograms of plutonium, sufficient for ninety weapons, and more than 2,500 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU), sufficient for one hundred simple fission warheads by 2020." The nuclear rivalry in South Asia remains ominous, because Pakistan wages LIC against India via non-state actors, while India has devised "limited conventional-war options" to punish the Pakistani military on Pakistani soil, the think tank observed. The big difference between the "first and second nuclear ages" is the domestic stability of the nuclear-weapon powers, it said. "In Asia - China and India represent this continuity of strong state institutions, as well as checks and balances on the military." The Atlantic Council said Pakistan remains "internally unstable, and increasingly unable to rein in 'praetorianism' over national security and nuclear policy."

China is now India's primary source of 'strategic?envy', says US think tank

<p>Rather than the Xiamen BRICS summit making to the recent headlines, it was the much-needed meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping which captured more eyes. If the two and half month long Doklam border tension made Modi&rsquo;s visit to China significant, it was Modi&rsquo;s ingenious articulation on India-China relations while promoting India&rsquo;s developmental narratives during the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen that was really impressive.</p>

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<p>To begin with, the Modi-Xi meeting promised for a stable and forward-looking India-China relationship. The moot point of the Xiamen meeting was to offer a forward-looking narrative to India-China relations that have been on the downside due to the Doklam border tension. As India&rsquo;s Foreign Secretary Jaishankar briefed, after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Modi was candid in telling Xi Jinping that &ldquo;differences between India, China should not become disputes&rdquo;. On China&rsquo;s part, it was reported, Xi Jinping urged Prime Minister Modi to put the bilateral relationship on the &ldquo;right track&rdquo;. Xi was reported saying that China would be seeking India&rsquo;s partnership under the five principles of &lsquo;Panchsheel&rsquo;.</p>

<p>Stressing on &ldquo;peace and tranquillity&rdquo; as a pre-requisite for confidence-building in border areas, both leaders agreed that they can&rsquo;t afford to &ldquo;let India-China relations change&rdquo; at a time when the world is changing. The move was to push ahead the relationship under a &ldquo;forwarding framework&rdquo; that was agreed between the two leaders during the Astana meeting this year. These statements appearing from Xiamen certainly indicate that there is a fresh approach to rebuild the relationship after the Doklam border tension. Still one needs to see whether these statements would be confined to their rhetoric best or would these really be translating into any action, resulting in a more nuanced relationship that would be &#39;forwarding&#39; in nature.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The effort to rebuild India-China relations in Xiamen is certainly a welcome step. The intent to have a &lsquo;forwarding relationship&rsquo; complements their official &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo; which was framed during Xi Jinping&rsquo;s visit to India in September 2015. The essence of this &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo; was to forge a closer economic partnership, enhancing the decade-old Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. Therefore, the Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi holds a strategic significance in the overall context of current India-China relationship.</p>

<p>It needs to be however asked: Will the Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi really reconstruct the relationship?&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi was a brief one. A thorough discussion to rebuild the relationship and any concrete outcome from this short meeting was hence unexpected. Both India and China need to note that they both must employ a pragmatic approach so that the relationship can be reconstructed even though tensions surrounding classical boundary disputes may come to haunt the relationship from time to time.</p>

<p>This stated &#39;forwarding&#39; partnership, however, can be built under an intensive economic cooperation and multilateral engagement. The effort should be made to expedite trade and economic engagement, which used to be the most stabilising factor in India-China relations over the last one and half decade. Similarly, multi-lateral engagement must be accelerated where forums like BRICS could allow them to rebuild confidence even though the tension re-emerges. In fact, the need of the time is to have an introspection of their past trajectory of engagement wherein both decided to design a &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The proposal for a &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo; was primarily a Chinese suggestion. In fact, China under Xi Jinping today has similar &lsquo;developmental partnerships&rsquo; with a number of countries. But it was Narendra Modi who had initially sown the seeds of the partnership between the two countries during his visit to China as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi had identified China as an &lsquo;economic hub&rsquo; and had ardently backed initially for a greater China-India economic engagement.</p>

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<p>As Prime Minister, Modi had elevated this by suggesting a &lsquo;bilaterally global&rsquo; proposition and importantly by defining the relationship as &lsquo;Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy). It brought the developmental course to the forefront where the central label of India-China engagement was to establish sectoral engagement where domestic constituencies were supposed to play stronger roles through &lsquo;sister-city&rsquo; and &lsquo;sister-provincial&rsquo; engagements. In fact, the fundamentals of the sectoral engagement were crafted to expedite cooperation in areas, such as industrial parks, railways, credit and leasing, infrastructural development, skill development, etc.</p>

<p>Notably, under his &lsquo;make in India&rsquo; campaign, Modi had offered an open invitation to the Chinese companies to invest, collaborate and create conditions for sustainable foreign direct investment, skill development and for an export-led development model that could be the basis of a &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo;. The intent for Modi was to engage with China on a wider spectrum of areas where India can have an equipoise advantage as an economic partner.</p>

<p>In fact, Modi&rsquo;s diction on economic engagement was not only to enhance the &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo; but to enhance it further within a spectrum of &lsquo;sustainable partnership&rsquo; that will be comprehensive and wide-ranging. This inventive way of rephrasing China-India relations on Modi&rsquo;s part witnessed a serious setback during Xi Jinping&rsquo;s India visit when the troops of the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army (PLA) of China entered India&rsquo;s Chumar region in Ladakh, triggering a border standoff on the Western sector of China-India boundary in 2014. This indeed tested Modi&#39;s pulse: how to diffuse the tension while readying to receive Xi as a &lsquo;state guest&rsquo;.</p>

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<p>Modi successfully managed to persuade Xi to order the PLA to return to Chinese territory while affirming that &lsquo;even such small incidents can impact the biggest of relationships&rsquo;.</p>

<p>The urge to promote a &lsquo;developmental partnership&rsquo; has not died down on Modi&rsquo;s part. A similar trait is noticed in Modi&rsquo;s speech at the Xiamen BRICS summit that unveils his original intent to cooperate with China as a partner. Modi&rsquo;s BRICS plenary session speech was a memo on how China along with other emerging powers must view India&rsquo;s national developmental path more intently.</p>

<p>There were many shades to Modi&rsquo;s BRICS plenary speech, but the most notable one was&nbsp;how India is fast emerging as an open economy through its biggest ever reform of Goods and Services Tax (GST) that unites India as a unified single market. Modi pitched for India&rsquo;s proposition for a BRICS credit rating agency to pawn western rating assessments keeping in view that how India&rsquo;s stable and impressive GDP growth should be noted across the world without any prejudices. The effort behind Modi&#39;s speech at BRICS was international: positioning India as a progressive economic power in making. The intent was also to pass the message to the international community that India is on the move and China must take a note of that.</p>

<p>Underneath the intent was to reiterate Modi&rsquo;s &ldquo;India first&rdquo; approach of not only promoting Indian brand of development but also to urge the international community to acknowledge India better. This was a clear signal to China since Modi used the Xiamen BRICS forum to speak about this. Similarly, Modi&rsquo;s speech at the session on Dialogue for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in Xiamen called for an &ldquo;inclusive world&rdquo;. Modi revealed an Indian approach to global governance by stating that the needs of the poor must be aligned to the global economic mainstream and here both India and China could play a constructive role. Will China really respond to this positive appeal from Narendra Modi?&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Hopes from Beijing in this regard are low though. China may genuinely be aiming to have good relations with India, but the global ambition of China to emerge as a &lsquo;super power&rsquo; equal to the American supremacy will restrict the goodwill of Beijing towards India. China under Xi Jinping is fast emerging as a different power where preserving China&rsquo;s national interests and having a higher stake in any bilateral relationship is the bottom line of China&rsquo;s foreign relations practice. India&rsquo;s rise under Modi as a stable power is seen in China today as a competing chapter in China&rsquo;s foreign relations trajectory in Asia if not beyond. Beijing has become more circumspect to matters relating India and would not like to offer many advantages to India, bilaterally or regionally.</p>

<p>The intent on China&rsquo;s part is pretty obvious: keep India engaged in neighbouring affairs which will define India&rsquo;s image as a limited power. In fact, unlike most of China&rsquo;s contemporary debate on foreign affairs, the debate on India in China remains relatively less known and less perceptible to the outside world. India is debated quite frequently though restrictedly, and unlike in the past, China&rsquo;s India debate is quite serious today.</p>

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<p>The fundamental notion of this Chinese seriousness is that &lsquo;India is rising, and rising steadily&rsquo;. Beijing sees India as a &lsquo;potential power&rsquo; in making which provokes China&rsquo;s rise in the region, more than any other powers. This Chinese perception will override any Chinese pragmatic thinking to cooperate with India as a &lsquo;developmental partner&rsquo;. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Xiamen bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi was a much-needed one to restore normalcy in the relationship. However, the effort to rebuild India-China relations is nothing new, rather a past practice that has not really worked. Neither the novelty of the &lsquo;Panchsheel&rsquo; framework has worked nor the plethora of agreements that their relationship currently possess hold any cogency to the overall architecture of India-China relations. Since its formulation officially on 29 April 1954, the Panchsheel principles have been a matter of great relevance in international relations discourse. But that has not worked in India-China relations: the historic 1962 India-China war made it permanently a deceptive principle, mainly from the Indian outlook.</p>

<p>Therefore, to India, Xi Jinping&rsquo;s stress to reframe the current relationship within the principles of Panchsheel will hold little value. On the contrary, India&rsquo;s resolute foreign policy and national developmental path under Modi have bothered the Chinese most in recent times. India&rsquo;s resolute stance on the Doklam border tension has challenged the Chinese resilience as a power, one fact that Beijing would not forget easily. Therefore, the Modi-Xi meeting in Xiamen may reinstate India-China relations temporarily, but it would have little lasting significance to change the fundamentals in this relationship.</p>


China sees India as a ?potential power? in making, and this perception will override any Chinese pragmatic thinking to cooperate with India as a ?developmental partner?. ?

Rather than the Xiamen BRICS summit making to the recent headlines, it was the much-needed meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping which captured more eyes. If the two and half month long Doklam border tension made Modi’s visit to China significant, it was Modi’s ingenious articulation on India-China relations while promoting India’s developmental narratives during the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen that was really impressive. The Modi-Xi meeting promised for a stable and forward-looking India-China relationship. × To begin with, the Modi-Xi meeting promised for a stable and forward-looking India-China relationship. The moot point of the Xiamen meeting was to offer a forward-looking narrative to India-China relations that have been on the downside due to the Doklam border tension. As India’s Foreign Secretary Jaishankar briefed, after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Modi was candid in telling Xi Jinping that “differences between India, China should not become disputes”. On China’s part, it was reported, Xi Jinping urged Prime Minister Modi to put the bilateral relationship on the “right track”. Xi was reported saying that China would be seeking India’s partnership under the five principles of ‘Panchsheel’. Stressing on “peace and tranquillity” as a pre-requisite for confidence-building in border areas, both leaders agreed that they can’t afford to “let India-China relations change” at a time when the world is changing. The move was to push ahead the relationship under a “forwarding framework” that was agreed between the two leaders during the Astana meeting this year. These statements appearing from Xiamen certainly indicate that there is a fresh approach to rebuild the relationship after the Doklam border tension. Still one needs to see whether these statements would be confined to their rhetoric best or would these really be translating into any action, resulting in a more nuanced relationship that would be 'forwarding' in nature. The effort to rebuild India-China relations in Xiamen is certainly a welcome step. The intent to have a ‘forwarding relationship’ complements their official ‘developmental partnership’ which was framed during Xi Jinping’s visit to India in September 2015. The essence of this ‘developmental partnership’ was to forge a closer economic partnership, enhancing the decade-old Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. Therefore, the Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi holds a strategic significance in the overall context of current India-China relationship. It needs to be however asked: Will the Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi really reconstruct the relationship? Both India and China need to note that they both must employ a pragmatic approach so that the relationship can be reconstructed even though tensions surrounding classical boundary disputes may come to haunt the relationship from time to time. × Xiamen meeting between Modi and Xi was a brief one. A thorough discussion to rebuild the relationship and any concrete outcome from this short meeting was hence unexpected. Both India and China need to note that they both must employ a pragmatic approach so that the relationship can be reconstructed even though tensions surrounding classical boundary disputes may come to haunt the relationship from time to time. This stated 'forwarding' partnership, however, can be built under an intensive economic cooperation and multilateral engagement. The effort should be made to expedite trade and economic engagement, which used to be the most stabilising factor in India-China relations over the last one and half decade. Similarly, multi-lateral engagement must be accelerated where forums like BRICS could allow them to rebuild confidence even though the tension re-emerges. In fact, the need of the time is to have an introspection of their past trajectory of engagement wherein both decided to design a ‘developmental partnership’. The proposal for a ‘developmental partnership’ was primarily a Chinese suggestion. In fact, China under Xi Jinping today has similar ‘developmental partnerships’ with a number of countries. But it was Narendra Modi who had initially sown the seeds of the partnership between the two countries during his visit to China as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi had identified China as an ‘economic hub’ and had ardently backed initially for a greater China-India economic engagement. The proposal for a ‘developmental partnership’ was primarily a Chinese suggestion. × As Prime Minister, Modi had elevated this by suggesting a ‘bilaterally global’ proposition and importantly by defining the relationship as ‘Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy). It brought the developmental course to the forefront where the central label of India-China engagement was to establish sectoral engagement where domestic constituencies were supposed to play stronger roles through ‘sister-city’ and ‘sister-provincial’ engagements. In fact, the fundamentals of the sectoral engagement were crafted to expedite cooperation in areas, such as industrial parks, railways, credit and leasing, infrastructural development, skill development, etc. Notably, under his ‘make in India’ campaign, Modi had offered an open invitation to the Chinese companies to invest, collaborate and create conditions for sustainable foreign direct investment, skill development and for an export-led development model that could be the basis of a ‘developmental partnership’. The intent for Modi was to engage with China on a wider spectrum of areas where India can have an equipoise advantage as an economic partner. In fact, Modi’s diction on economic engagement was not only to enhance the ‘developmental partnership’ but to enhance it further within a spectrum of ‘sustainable partnership’ that will be comprehensive and wide-ranging. This inventive way of rephrasing China-India relations on Modi’s part witnessed a serious setback during Xi Jinping’s India visit when the troops of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China entered India’s Chumar region in Ladakh, triggering a border standoff on the Western sector of China-India boundary in 2014. This indeed tested Modi's pulse: how to diffuse the tension while readying to receive Xi as a ‘state guest’. The intent for Modi was to engage with China on a wider spectrum of areas where India can have an equipoise advantage as an economic partner. × Modi successfully managed to persuade Xi to order the PLA to return to Chinese territory while affirming that ‘even such small incidents can impact the biggest of relationships’. The urge to promote a ‘developmental partnership’ has not died down on Modi’s part. A similar trait is noticed in Modi’s speech at the Xiamen BRICS summit that unveils his original intent to cooperate with China as a partner. Modi’s BRICS plenary session speech was a memo on how China along with other emerging powers must view India’s national developmental path more intently. There were many shades to Modi’s BRICS plenary speech, but the most notable one was how India is fast emerging as an open economy through its biggest ever reform of Goods and Services Tax (GST) that unites India as a unified single market. Modi pitched for India’s proposition for a BRICS credit rating agency to pawn western rating assessments keeping in view that how India’s stable and impressive GDP growth should be noted across the world without any prejudices. The effort behind Modi's speech at BRICS was international: positioning India as a progressive economic power in making. The intent was also to pass the message to the international community that India is on the move and China must take a note of that. Underneath the intent was to reiterate Modi’s “India first” approach of not only promoting Indian brand of development but also to urge the international community to acknowledge India better. This was a clear signal to China since Modi used the Xiamen BRICS forum to speak about this. Similarly, Modi’s speech at the session on Dialogue for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in Xiamen called for an “inclusive world”. Modi revealed an Indian approach to global governance by stating that the needs of the poor must be aligned to the global economic mainstream and here both India and China could play a constructive role. Will China really respond to this positive appeal from Narendra Modi? The effort behind Modi's speech at BRICS was international: positioning India as a progressive economic power in making. × Hopes from Beijing in this regard are low though. China may genuinely be aiming to have good relations with India, but the global ambition of China to emerge as a ‘super power’ equal to the American supremacy will restrict the goodwill of Beijing towards India. China under Xi Jinping is fast emerging as a different power where preserving China’s national interests and having a higher stake in any bilateral relationship is the bottom line of China’s foreign relations practice. India’s rise under Modi as a stable power is seen in China today as a competing chapter in China’s foreign relations trajectory in Asia if not beyond. Beijing has become more circumspect to matters relating India and would not like to offer many advantages to India, bilaterally or regionally. The intent on China’s part is pretty obvious: keep India engaged in neighbouring affairs which will define India’s image as a limited power. In fact, unlike most of China’s contemporary debate on foreign affairs, the debate on India in China remains relatively less known and less perceptible to the outside world. India is debated quite frequently though restrictedly, and unlike in the past, China’s India debate is quite serious today. The global ambition of China to emerge as a ‘super power’ equal to the American supremacy will restrict the goodwill of Beijing towards India. × The fundamental notion of this Chinese seriousness is that ‘India is rising, and rising steadily’. Beijing sees India as a ‘potential power’ in making which provokes China’s rise in the region, more than any other powers. This Chinese perception will override any Chinese pragmatic thinking to cooperate with India as a ‘developmental partner’. The Xiamen bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi was a much-needed one to restore normalcy in the relationship. However, the effort to rebuild India-China relations is nothing new, rather a past practice that has not really worked. Neither the novelty of the ‘Panchsheel’ framework has worked nor the plethora of agreements that their relationship currently possess hold any cogency to the overall architecture of India-China relations. Since its formulation officially on 29 April 1954, the Panchsheel principles have been a matter of great relevance in international relations discourse. But that has not worked in India-China relations: the historic 1962 India-China war made it permanently a deceptive principle, mainly from the Indian outlook. Therefore, to India, Xi Jinping’s stress to reframe the current relationship within the principles of Panchsheel will hold little value. On the contrary, India’s resolute foreign policy and national developmental path under Modi have bothered the Chinese most in recent times. India’s resolute stance on the Doklam border tension has challenged the Chinese resilience as a power, one fact that Beijing would not forget easily. Therefore, the Modi-Xi meeting in Xiamen may reinstate India-China relations temporarily, but it would have little lasting significance to change the fundamentals in this relationship.

Will India-China relationship take a different turn with Modi meeting Xi in Xiamen?

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