‘India, China Should Show Sensitivity To Each Other’s Concerns’: What PM Modi Told Xi On BRICS’ Sidelines

Last Updated:September 16, 2026, 07:32 IST

While India had stopped publicly articulating its One China policy 16 years ago, the country’s position on Tibet and Taiwan has remained consistent under successive governments

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Photo: X/NarendraModi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised Indian concerns surrounding ties with China with President Xi Jinping, stressing that both sides need to show sensitivity to each other’s core concerns, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

PM Modi and Xi met last week on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi. The Chinese leader landed in India on September 12, marking his first trip to New Delhi since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

The MEA assertion was in response to a query regarding the Chinese readout that quoted PM Modi as saying that India’s position on Tibet and Taiwan had not changed and that New Delhi doesn’t allow anyone to carry out anti-China activities on its soil.

“PM referred to Indian concerns as well and underlined that both sides should show sensitivity to each other’s core concerns,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “PM (Modi) underlined both sides be guided by three mutuals, mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity”.

India’s Stance On Taiwan, Tibet

While India had stopped publicly articulating its One China policy 16 years ago, the country’s position on Tibet and Taiwan has remained consistent under successive governments.

One China policy is a diplomatic acknowledgment that there is only one sovereign state, known as “China”, which is represented by the People’s Republic of China. It particularly states that Taiwan is part of this single China.

Both the US and India have adopted the policy with strategic flexibility, allowing the two nations to maintain relations with Beijing and pursue unofficial cooperation with Taipei.

According to the Government of India, New Delhi’s stance on Taiwan is clear and consistent, as it allows the country to maintain its sovereignty as well as promote interaction in various sectors including trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

India also recognises that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of China. Under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003, India signed the Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation with China, asserting that New Delhi doesn’t allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China activities on the country’s soil.

BRICS Summit 2026

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The two-day event saw the participation of various world leaders, including: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among others.

Leaders of the BRICS group of nations unanimously adopted a joint declaration called for restraint in West Asia without naming any countries in specific. It also condemned the 2025 Pahalgam massacre, one of the deadliest terror attacks in India in decades, which killed 26 civilians.

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What did PM Modi emphasize to President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting at the 2026 BRICS Summit?

During their meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised Indian concerns and stressed that both India and China need to show sensitivity to each other’s core concerns. He underlined that both nations should be guided by “three mutuals”: mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity. Additionally, PM Modi emphasized that differences between the two countries should not be allowed to turn into disputes.

What is India’s official diplomatic stance regarding Taiwan and Tibet?

India’s stance on Taiwan is clear and consistent, allowing the country to maintain its sovereignty while promoting interaction in trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. India also recognizes the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China. Under a 2003 declaration, India agreed not to allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China activities on Indian soil.

What key consensus did President Xi Jinping and PM Modi reach during their talks in New Delhi?

The most important consensus reached by the two leaders was that China and India should remain partners rather than rivals, and serve as opportunities instead of threats to each other’s development. They agreed to address economic and trade concerns in a balanced manner, expand people-to-people exchanges, and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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