Modi meets Chinese president Xi Jinping in Fortaleza

India and China have emphasised the need to find a solution to the long-pending boundary dispute. In talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping shortly after his arrival in Fortaleza, Brazil, on Monday Indian prime minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the border.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President  Xi Jinping, at Fortaliza, in Brazil on 14  July 2014

He said if India and China could amicably resolve the boundary question, it would set an example for the entire world, on peaceful conflict resolution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping shortly after his arrival in Fortaleza, Brazil, on the eve of the sixth BRICS summit. The 80-minute meeting was the prime minister's first summit-level interaction with China.

The two leaders observed that India and China had enormous opportunities to not only forge mutually beneficial partnerships, but also serve as catalytic agents of Asian and global prosperity.

Underscoring the importance of the bilateral relationship, President Xi Jinping said, ''When India and China meet, the whole world watches.''

The two leaders were pleased with the high momentum of bilateral engagement during the past few weeks, including the visit of India's vice president Hamid Ansari to China and the visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to India as President Jinping's special envoy, in June.

Modi suggested the addition of one more route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, keeping in view the terrain difficulties, which the Chinese President Xi Jinping accepted as a suggestion for consideration.

The prime minister called for enhanced Chinese investment in the infrastructure sector in India, and hoped that the trade imbalance between the two countries is resolved. President Xi Jinping agreed that balance in trade is necessary for a sustainable economic relationship. He also said enhanced services exports from India to China could be one way to address the issue.

China has invited India to attend an APEC meeting in November this year. President Xi Jinping also wanted India to deepen its engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The prime minister said India currently has observer status in the SCO, and was ready to accept additional responsibility, if asked to.

Modi also warmly recalled his visits to China when he was chief minister of Gujarat. He underlined that relations between countries are built on the strength of relations between their people and expressed hope for increase in tourism and ties between the people of the two ancient civilizations.

He said President Xi Jinping's planned visit to India this year would provide an opportunity to chart a new and ambitious agenda for the strategic partnership between India and China.

He expressed appreciation for the invitation extended to him to visit China and looked forward to an early visit.