Modi-Xi meet: Trade, border on agenda during Xi's 24-hour blitz - The Times of India

**Modi‑Xi Summit Sets a Rapid‑Fire Pace Ahead of BRICS 2026**

New Delhi welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping for a tightly scheduled 24‑hour visit that coincides with the opening of the BRICS 2026 summit. The two‑day diplomatic itinerary, unveiled by the Ministry of External Affairs, packed a series of high‑level meetings, state receptions and a visit to the historic Red Fort, underscoring the symbolic weight both leaders attach to the encounter. While the BRICS gathering provides a broader multilateral backdrop, the core of the bilateral dialogue focused on two long‑standing flashpoints: the contested border in Arunachal Pradesh and the trajectory of China‑India trade, which last year topped **$100 billion**—making China India’s largest trading partner.

On the security front, officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on recent incursions and infrastructure projects along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh, a region that Beijing claims as part of “South Tibet.” Both sides reiterated a “mutual desire to resolve differences peacefully,” but Chinese diplomats also warned that any unilateral actions would be “counter‑productive.” Parallel to the border talks, trade ministers from the two nations exchanged views on market access, intellectual‑property protection, and the need to diversify supply chains, acknowledging lingering mistrust over issues such as the treatment of Indian firms in China and the impact of recent tariff measures.

The visit also carried a strong diplomatic signaling component. In a joint statement released after the summit, China urged both countries to “handle differences with the utmost propriety,” echoing remarks made by senior Chinese officials in the days leading up to the trip. The arrival of Xi’s heavily armoured limousine—a convoy that turned heads on Delhi’s streets and was highlighted by NDTV as a visual reminder of the visit’s high security—was framed by both governments as a testament to the “respectful and responsible” nature of the engagement. Analysts from Reuters note that while the meeting may thaw some diplomatic frost, deep‑seated commercial suspicions and the unresolved border dispute are likely to continue shaping the Indo‑Chinese relationship in the months ahead.