This combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PHOTOS / AP AND XINHUA)

BEIJING/JOHANNESBURG - A Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping talked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's request on Wednesday.

Xi also met with leaders of Iran, the Republic of the Congo, Malawi and Namibia on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit.

Xi returned to China on Friday after attending the summit and paying a state visit to South Africa.

According to the spokesperson, Xi and Modi had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest.

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Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region.

The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border region, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Cooperation with Iran

During the meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the summit, Xi said that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Iran on BRICS and other multilateral platforms, so as to push for healthy and robust development of multilateralism.

Xi congratulated Iran on becoming a member of BRICS, stressing that it is a historic event that the BRICS summit, with joint efforts of all parties, has made the decision to expand.

All the new members are countries with important influence, Xi said, expressing confidence that they will have a major impact on the world.

China is ready to continue to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and push for more progress in China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, said Xi

Xi said since Raisi's successful visit to China in February this year, the two countries' departments have wasted no time to implement the consensus reached between the two leaders, which has achieved positive results.

Xi said he is glad that with the joint efforts of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iran and Saudi Arabia have achieved reconciliation, which promoted security and stability in the Middle East.

China is ready to consolidate its friendship with Iran, deepen mutual trust, continue to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and push for more progress in China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi added.

For his part, Raisi said Iran highly appreciates and thanks China for supporting Iran in becoming a full member of BRICS, which will provide fresh momentum for the development of Iran-China relations.

He said this is conducive to strengthening coordination between the two countries on multilateral platforms, and will also help better advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi.

Raisi expressed gratitude for Xi's important role in promoting dialogue and reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding that the expansion of BRICS shows that unilateralism is going downhill.

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Iran's determination to deepen the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership is unswerving, Raisi said, adding that Iran stands ready to make joint efforts with China to further enhance the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries and actively advance the Belt and Road cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Safeguarding national independence

In another meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, Xi said China will, as always, firmly support the country in safeguarding its national independence and opposing foreign interference.

Calling Sassou Nguesso an old friend and good friend of the Chinese people, Xi pointed out that the sound development of bilateral relations is inseparable from the fact that Sassou Nguesso attaches great importance to and sticks to friendship with China.

He expressed thanks to the Congolese side for its firm support on issues concerning China's core interests, noting that China will, as always, support the Republic of the Congo in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.

China will, as always, support the Republic of the Congo in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs, said Xi

Noting that next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said China is ready to make joint plans and hold grand celebrations with the Congolese side.

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China is willing to maintain close exchanges, enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation with the Congolese side, so as to push for more achievements in their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

For his part, Sassou Nguesso said Xi's successful state visit to the Republic of the Congo in 2013 remains fresh in his memory, adding that Chinese enterprises have undertaken many national construction projects in the African country, and friendship and cooperation with China are important factors for the country's continuous development.

Expressing his thanks to China for its valuable support and assistance to his country, Sassou Nguesso said that he is highly looking forward to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations next year, which he hopes that both sides will take as an opportunity to push for greater development of bilateral relations.

The Republic of the Congo stands ready to deepen communication and coordination with China in international affairs, and jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Exploring a development path

While meeting with his Malawian counterpart, Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday, the Chinese leader said China supports Malawi in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, and stands ready to continuously offer whatever help China can to the country in its socio-economic development.

Xi said he appreciates Chakwera for upholding the one-China principle since taking office.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Malawi and other developing countries, Xi told Chakwera

It is hoped that China and Malawi can continuously support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, push for new results in practical cooperation between the two countries, and promote ever-new development of bilateral relations, he said.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Malawi and other developing countries, and advance the development of the international order in a more equal and just direction, he said.

For his part, Chakwera noted that China is always the first to lend a helping hand to Malawi when the latter faces difficulties, adding that during his recent visit to China, he was not only warmly received, but also truly felt that China is Malawi's true friend, brother and partner.

Malawi firmly adheres to the one-China policy, he said, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi is conducive to the common development of developing countries.

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Chakwera added that Malawi is willing to continuously deepen friendship and cooperation with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Cooperation in clean energy

Meanwhile, Xi met with his Namibian counterpart, Hage Geingob, saying that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Namibia in various fields, including in clean energy, and will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Namibia.

Xi said President Geingob is an old friend of the Chinese people, who has deep affection for China. The Chinese side greatly appreciates the president's firm support for China's position on issues of core interests, and his delivering justice and speaking out for righteousness in international affairs.

Xi pointed out that China and Africa share similar historical experiences and hard struggle, adding that China insists on equality and mutual respect between big and small countries.

The Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people to successfully build socialism with Chinese characteristics, while at the same time taking efforts to push forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that China insists on equality and mutual respect between big and small countries

Through proposing a series of initiatives such as the Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said, China offers opportunities to developing countries to realize joint development and prosperity, and fights for more equal rights for developing nations.

For his part, Geingob said Namibia and China enjoy long-term friendship. China is an all-weather friend, and even more so a friend who can count on when in difficulty. The Namibian side is deeply grateful to China's firm support in the various causes of fighting for national independence and emancipation as well as national development.

He said as a leader of a global major country, President Xi has led the Chinese people to achieve remarkable accomplishments, and treats African leaders with equality and humility, which is very touching.

The Namibian side has been greatly inspired by the thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics, and is exploring a modernization path with Namibian characteristics, Geingob noted.

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Namibia firmly supports China, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in Namibia and stands ready to work with China to push for greater development of bilateral relations, he added.