PM Modi, Xi Jinping Discussed Need to Stabilise Bilateral Ties At Bali G20 Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali last November, and discussed the need to stabilise bilateral relations.

The meeting was the first public interaction between the two leaders since the border standoff began in May 2020.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the two leaders exchanged pleasantries and discussed the need to stabilize bilateral relations.

"Our consistent stance has been that resolving the issue along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the India-China boundary and restoring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is crucial for the overall resolution," the statement said.

The MEA also said that India is making all the necessary preparations for the successful participation of all invited leaders at the G20 summit in Delhi.

This statement came in response to Beijing's claim, made two days earlier, that PM Modi and Xi Jinping had reached an "important consensus" on stabilising bilateral ties during their interaction at the G20 Summit in Bali. The Chinese foreign ministry has said that the meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping was "positive".

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi clarified that during the Bali G20 summit, after a dinner hosted by the Indonesian President, PM Modi and President Xi Jinping exchanged pleasantries and had a conversation about the necessity of stabilizing the India-China bilateral relations.

Bagchi reiterated India's consistent stance on resolving issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the India-China boundary and restoring peace and tranquillity in the border areas as crucial for overall resolution.

The MEA had previously mentioned the exchange of pleasantries between the two leaders during the G20 summit, which marked their first public interaction since the border standoff began in May 2020.

Regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at the G20 summit in Delhi, Bagchi stated that India is making all necessary preparations for the successful participation of all invited leaders.

The border standoff between India and China began in May 2020, when Chinese troops entered Indian territory in the Galwan Valley.

The standoff has continued since then, and there have been several rounds of talks between the two sides to resolve the issue. However, no breakthrough has been achieved so far.

The meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping in Bali was seen as an opportunity to improve relations between the two countries.