India, China should work 'appropriately' to manage differences, Chinese President Xi tells PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on Friday. The meeting between the two leaders is seen as an effort to mend the growing fissures between the countries over various issues, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Xi, during the meeting, told PM Modi that the two countries should work to "appropriately" manage their differences, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement online.

"(China and India) should strengthen multilateral communication and consultation, and appropriately control and manage differences and sensitive issues," Xi said, according to the post.

The Chinese President also congratulated India on becoming an official member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) security bloc, jointly led by Russia and China.

This is the first such meeting between the leaders after India boycotted the high-profile Belt and Road Forum held last which in Beijing and was attended by at least 29 countries including Pakistan.

One Belt One Road (OBOR) is a development strategy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which focuses on connectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of Eurasia, encompassing around 60 countries and is worth over $50 billion. 

India, however, had announced in May that it will boycott the two-day summit, citing that the nation cannot accept a project which ignores its core concern over sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Economic Corridor passes through Gilgit and Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay on Friday tweeted about the meeting with the two leaders.

"PM @narendramodi meets President of China #XiJinping on margins of SCO Summit in Astana," Baglay tweeted.

PM Modi and Xi are currently in the Kazakhstan capital to attend the annual SCO Summit. The SCO comprises of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO acts as a China-dominated security group with special focus on Central Asia. India and Pakistan are attending the summit this week as new members of the organisation.

The two countries are also in contention over the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), where China has been adamant about its stand to block India's admission into the 48-member prestigious group. It had also stalled India's move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.

Modi and Xi are expected to meet at the G20 summit after Astana, which is set to be held next month in Hamburg, Germany followed by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit to be held in Xiamen, China in September.