BRICS Summit: Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping pledge to resolve India-China border dispute

Fortaleza (Brazil): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Chinese President Xi Jinping here and pressed for a solution to the boundary question, saying if the two sides could amicably resolve the vexed issue, it would set an example for the world on peaceful conflict resolution.

The two leaders, who arrived almost at the same time in this seaside city of Brazil last evening to attend the BRICS Summit, engaged shortly thereafter for what was described as "good discussions and good meeting".

The meeting - first between the two leaders – was scheduled for 40 minutes but it went on for 80 minutes as it was freewheeling discussion without any constraints.

"Had a very fruitful meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping. We discussed a wide range of issues," Modi tweeted after the meeting with Xi, also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China.

"Both sides emphasised on the need to find a solution to the Boundary Question. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the border," said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

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Prime Minister Modi told Xi that "if India and China could amicably resolve the Boundary Question, it would set an example for the entire world, on peaceful conflict resolution," the statement added.

The two sides have held 17 rounds of the Special Representative talks aimed at resolving the boundary issue.

India asserts that the border dispute covered nearly 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control, while China claims that it confined to about 2,000 km to the area of Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers as Southern Tibet.

During the meeting, Modi also suggested the addition of one more route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet, keeping in view the terrain difficulties.

President Xi "accepted this as a suggestion for consideration," the statement said.

The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet under arduous conditions.

Xi confirmed his visit to India in September and extended an invitation to Modi to visit China, which was accepted. The dates will be decided by diplomatic channels, Akbaruddin said.

Asked if India has accepted the invitation for the APEC summit, he said November was a busy month with SAARC and G20 meetings scheduled but New Delhi considers the invitation as a significant gesture which will be given very serious consideration.

It was a substantive and a very cordial and warm meeting in which the two leaders struck a personal rapport, which augurs well for the future, the spokesman said.

He said the prime minister emphasised that there should be no incidents on the border that would undermine the bilateral relations.

To a question on the incursions by the Chinese army on the border, Akbaruddin said India conveyed its concerns to China on the issue.

On his part, Modi also emphasised on the economic relations between the two countries and talked about cooperation in the infrastructure sector, industrial parks and investment.

He referred to the adverse trade imbalance against India and sought correction of the situation.

Xi acknowledged that there was a possibility of enhanced trade, particularly in the services sector from the Indian side and the increased Chinese tourist numbers to India.

Modi referred to the visit of Chinese travellers coming to Gujarat in the ancient period. Both the leaders touched on the historic and civilisational links between the two countries, especially the Buddhist links.

The Prime Minister referred to terrorism and extremism and said India and China should work together to fight the menace in the region in view of the common civilisational heritage they had.

Replying to questions whether any timeliness were discussed on resolving the border question, Akbaruddin said obviously since it was a first meeting between them they could not go beyond their initial references and stated positions.

Modi tweeted a photograph of both leaders meeting, "Had a very fruitful meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping. We discussed a wide range of issues."

Had a very fruitful meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping. We discussed a wide range of issues pic.twitter.com/dL6n0p17TO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2014