Xi calls for 'healthy, stable' ties between China, India (Third Lead)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said "healthy and stable relations" between China and India were in line with the fundamental interests of their people.

"China is willing to work with India on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to improve political mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and push Sino-Indian ties along a right track," he said at a bilateral meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the end of the 9th BRICS Summit here.

Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the Summit -- for the first time after a tense stand-off between the two armies ended last month. The two leaders also discussed the border issue.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Modi congratulated Xi for the "very successful" execution of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit.

Xi told Modi that "healthy and stable bilateral ties (were) in line with fundamental interests of the two nations".

Indian and Chinese troops last month ended a tense stand-off on the Doklam border which began in June, seriously affecting their ties.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted that Modi and Xi had "a constructive and forward looking meeting".

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

--IANS

gsh/mr/ksk