Russia has hailed the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan as a “very positive development” in the fraught ties between India and China.
The discussions, viewed as a significant step towards defusing border tensions, signal attempts at a gradual normalisation, as stated by Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at the Russian Embassy, Alipov clarified Russia’s stance, emphasising that Russia played no role in facilitating the meeting, stating, “We have not played any role in it (Modi-Xi meeting), but we are happy that it took place in Kazan.”
Alipov noted that Russia consistently advocates for “stable and good relations” between India and China, describing such stability as essential for global progress.
“High-level interactions such as the one in Kazan will facilitate new pathways to a closer dialogue between the two countries,” he added.
The Kazan summit has attracted commentary from leaders across the region, though Alipov dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent assertion that the BRICS gathering was a “failure.”
Calling Zelensky’s comments “delusional” and “absolutely wrong,” Alipov countered, saying the summit was a “total success.”
Hosted by Russia, this year’s BRICS summit has been closely watched as a key non-Western forum amid heightened tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict and ongoing strife in West Asia. Alipov underscored the inclusive nature of BRICS, remarking, “BRICS is not anti-West but non-West.”
The Modi-Xi meeting, a first structured dialogue between the leaders in nearly five years, reportedly spanned nearly 50 minutes. Discussions focused on border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, which had previously spiralled into a deadly clash in 2020.
The leaders also revived the stalled Special Representatives’ dialogue mechanism, which aims to promote peace along the contentious border regions.
In this context, Modi highlighted the necessity of “properly handling differences and disputes” and underscored the values of “mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity” as essential underpinnings of the India-China relationship.
Alipov expressed optimism about the progress, describing the Modi-Xi talks as a “significant milestone” that could “open new ways to a trusted dialogue between the two countries” and foster greater peace on the Eurasian continent.
The Russian envoy’s remarks further stressed that Moscow views a harmonious India-China relationship as “indispensable” for broader stability and progress on the Eurasian continent.
“The prosperity and the progress on this continent can only be possible with a good relationship between India and China,” he said, adding that Russia, as the largest nation in Eurasia, supports this pursuit while maintaining a non-interventionist stance.
Referring to the Modi-Xi meeting, Alipov remarked, “Prime Minister Modi went on record saying... and we have also expressed similar views.”
He affirmed Russia’s longstanding support for constructive relations between India and China and highlighted the two nations as economic drivers on the continent, which has “global significance.”
Alipov concluded, “The good relationship between them is indispensable, for the progress of the world at large and for the Eurasian continent in particular.”
Moscow, he asserted, has “never interfered” in the bilateral negotiations or contentious issues, such as the border row, between the two nations.
With the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan, the summit has underscored BRICS’ expanding global influence as a non-Western power bloc, demonstrating that Moscow remains invested in fostering a stable Asian region with India and China as key partners in Eurasian peace and prosperity.
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