Kolkata: The September 12 meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi has laid the foundation for stronger bilateral ties between India and China, Chinese Consul General to Kolkata Xu Wei said on Tuesday.
Addressing a reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xu said the two countries should view each other as partners and focus on development, which he described as the “greatest common ground” between them.
“The most important consensus they reached is that China and India should be partners,” Xu said, calling for stronger friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation. He also stressed the need to address the economic and trade concerns of both countries in a balanced manner.
Xu said bilateral trade between India and China reached USD 125 billion between January and August 2026, marking a 22.6% YoY increase. Indian exports to China rose 41% during the period, according to the envoy.
The Chinese diplomat also highlighted the resumption of direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi by China Southern Airlines. The service, which resumed on Monday, is expected to facilitate business travel and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Referring to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Xu reiterated Xi’s call for Global South countries to uphold multilateralism and international law. He said China had proposed initiatives involving open-source artificial intelligence, digital industry and intelligent manufacturing cooperation under the BRICS framework.
Xu further said China would establish a BRICS AI open-source community and a digital ecosystem cloud platform, along with launching a youth exchange programme focused on scientific and technological innovation.
Highlighting eastern India’s role in bilateral engagement, Xu said the Kolkata Consulate had organised cultural and outreach programmes, including a China Film Festival, Chinese Language Day and Dragon Boat Race.
Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xu called on stakeholders in eastern India to work towards implementing the consensus reached by the leadership of the two countries and promoting regional stability, peace and mutual prosperity.
