Ties with China guided by 3 mutuals — respect, interest, sensitivity: India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS summit, emphasizing that India and China should conduct their relationship based on three guiding principles – mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. The discussion was highlighted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who reiterated that the leaders addressed several core concerns and reiterated India’s stance on Taiwan and Tibet.

The bilateral dialogue took place on Tuesday, with Chinese officials noting that Modi affirmed India’s independent foreign policy and its refusal to permit any force to conduct anti‑China activities within its territory. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson and Foreign Minister Wang Yi both praised the meeting, describing the consensus reached as “most important” and underscoring the three‑mutual framework. The statements were issued as part of the official Chinese readout following the summit.

The encounter follows a broader thaw in New Delhi‑Beijing ties after the October 2024 border agreement, which sought to de‑escalate longstanding disputes along the Line of Actual Control. Analysts view the reaffirmation of the three mutuals as an effort to stabilize bilateral relations, reduce strategic mistrust, and create a more predictable environment for trade and regional cooperation.