From October 11 to 12, 2019, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India held the second informal meeting in Chennai, India. After the meeting, Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui briefed the media on the relevant situation of the meeting.

Luo Zhaohui said, the two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on overall, long-term and strategic international and regional issues in a friendly atmosphere and agreed to strengthen the closer development partnership between the two countries.

The two leaders reaffirmed the consensus reached during their first informal meeting in Wuhan in April last year that China and India offer each other chances for development and stable factors in the current international landscape.

Both sides spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations, agreed to enhance communication in experience of state governance and administration and strengthen synergy of development strategies, and discussed how to deepen bilateral exchanges so as to demonstrate the increasingly important roles of both countries on the world stage.

The two leaders agreed that the international situation is undergoing major adjustment, and that both China and India are committed to building a peaceful, secure and prosperous world, in which all countries can seek development in a world order based on international law, jointly promote multilateralism, democracy of international relations and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

The two leaders recognized that China and India share broad common interests in maintaining and promoting an inclusive international order based on international law, including promoting reforms reflecting the new pattern of the 21st century. Both sides agreed that the rule-based multilateral trading system should be supported and strengthened at a time when global trade practices and norms were questioned. China and India will continue to promote open and inclusive trade arrangements for the benefit of all countries.

The two leaders also highlighted the important efforts of respective countries to meet global development challenges, including climate change and sustainable development goals, emphasizing that the efforts of China and India will help the international community to achieve the relevant goals.

Both leaders believed that China and India are victims of terrorism. They are committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and call on all countries to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism.

The two leaders agreed that China and India, both important contemporary civilizations with long traditions, should strengthen dialogue, enhance the understanding of the two peoples about each other's cultures. Both leaders also agreed that both countries, as the major ancient oriental civilizations, should jointly promote dialogue and understanding among different cultures and civilizations.

The two leaders exchanged views on the long-standing commercial ties and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and India over the past two thousand years, noting in particular extensive maritime exchanges. They agreed to establish friendly provincial-state relations between Fujian Province and Tamil Nadu State. Based on the experience of cooperation between Dunhuang Research Academy and Ajanta Caves cultural institution, both leaders agreed that the two sides could discuss the feasibility of carrying out historical and cultural studies between the two places and carry out the study of maritime exchanges between China and India.

The two leaders affirmed the importance of an open, inclusive, prosperous and stable environment and better connectivity for the prosperity and stability of the region. On this basis, the Chinese side is ready to actively promote cooperation between China, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh with India and other relevant countries. They also agreed to make joint efforts to complete the negotiations on a mutually beneficial and balanced regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement as soon as possible.

The two leaders exchanged views on the common vision and goals of economic development in their respective countries. It is agreed that the simultaneous development of China and India has brought beneficial opportunities to each other. The two sides should continue to view each other with a positive, pragmatic and open mind, enhance their understanding of each other's policies and behaviors, and adhere to the general direction of friendly cooperation. To this end, the two sides agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communication on issues of common concern, make good use of the mechanisms of dialogue and exchanges between the two countries, and maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges. The two leaders agreed to designate 2020 as the China-India year of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and hold 70 events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India in 2020, including holding seminars, reviewing the historical ties between the two countries, exploring future cooperation, and deepening exchanges at all levels between the legislatures, political parties, cultures, youth groups and the armed forces of the two countries.

In order to further deepen economic cooperation between the two countries, the two leaders decided to establish a high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation and better promote the balanced development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. They agreed to encourage mutual investment in potential areas by exploring the establishment of a manufacturing partnership, and appoint officials from both sides to advance this idea at the meeting of the high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism.

The two leaders exchanged views on outstanding issues, including the border question. They welcomed the work undertaken by the special representatives of the two sides and instructed the special representatives of the two countries to continue their efforts to reach a mutually agreed framework based on the political guiding principles reached by the two sides in 2005 to find a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question. The two leaders reaffirmed that both sides will continue to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, and agreed on additional confidence-building measures to that end. The two sides will prudently manage their differences and not allow them to escalate into disputes.

President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke positively of the informal meeting, believing that it is an important opportunity for leaders of the two countries to deepen dialogue and enhance mutual understanding. The leaders of the two countries will continue to maintain strategic communication with such kind of meetings as well as other forms.