China, India Arranging Xi-Modi Bilateral Meeting on Sidelines of BRICS Summit

China and India are working to arrange a bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

The meeting would take place on the margins of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which Xi will attend from Saturday to Sunday at Modi's invitation, the ministry announced a day earlier.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, spokesperson Mao Ning said the talks would be the third consecutive annual meeting between the two leaders, following their earlier meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.

Mao said China is prepared to work with India to follow the strategic guidance of the two leaders and to view the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective. She added that the two sides would strengthen communication, enhance cooperation and properly handle differences, describing the aim as being good-neighbourly friends and partners for mutual achievement.

The briefing was attended by reporters, with the spokesperson taking questions during the session.