Xi calls for stronger Sino-Indian BRICS partnership

Ufa (Russia), July 9  China and India should work together to build a closer, and more comprehensive partnership among the BRICS countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here.

Xi made the remarks on Wednesday when meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city of Ufa, ahead of two multi-lateral summits, Xinhua reported.

The Chinese president recalled his meeting with Modi in May in the Chinese city of Xi'an, where the two leaders reached important consensus on enriching the bilateral strategic partnership and forging a closer development partnership.

The meeting sent positive signals to the international community that the two major developing nations are committed to cooperating for common development, said Xi.

The agreements reached back then are now being translated into steady progress in bilateral cooperation in such areas as parliamentary exchange, railway, industrial parks and smart cities, Xi said.

The president called on the two countries to make concerted efforts to maintain the positive momentum in the development of bilateral ties and open new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation.

On border issues, Xi called on the two sides to properly manage and control their differences, and jointly safeguard peace and security in the areas.

China and India should also make joint efforts to push forward the development of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the BRICS New Development Bank and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor, said Xi.

In recent years, India and China have further expanded their trade cooperation and made steady progress in the areas of science and technology, outer space and infrastructure, Modi said.

It is the fourth bilateral meeting between the two leaders since their first in Fortaleza, Brazil, last July. In September 2014 and May 2015, Xi and Modi visited each other's country, respectively.

The meeting came before the seventh summit of BRICS, an emerging-market bloc that consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

The SCO summit is expected to pass a resolution on starting the procedures of granting India and Pakistan full membership of the organisation.