President Xi Jinping called on China and India to strengthen strategic communication, increase mutual trust, and properly manage differences while meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.

As the world's two largest developing countries and emerging economies, Xi said China and India working together not only facilitates each other's national development but also contributes to world peace, stability and prosperity.

The two leaders are in Bishkek to attend the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Xi reiterated China's willingness to promote closer partnership with India, noting their meeting in central China's Wuhan City in April 2018, which led the bilateral ties to a new stage.

The Chinese president expressed hope that both parties enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and promote regional connectivity to better achieve joint development.

He also said the two countries should make joint efforts to uphold multilateralism and the free trade system, and strive for a more just and rational international order.

Regarding border issues, President Xi said that the two countries should make better use of the mandate of the special representatives on border issues and step up the building of mutual trust measures to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in border areas.

Modi hailed the progress made in bilateral ties during their meeting in Wuhan, stressing that India is willing to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, expand pragmatic cooperation as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and adequately address differences with China.