"Wuhan Informal Summit has concluded in full success, and it is a milestone in China-India relations," Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou has announced, noting that the two leaders had in-depth exchanges on international issues, China-India relations, and bilateral cooperation.

Kong said: "The two leaders shared the views that the international landscape has undergone profound changes, represented by the fast development of emerging economies such as China and India. China and India have important responsibilities for the future of mankind, and the two countries should work together to secure a multilateral trading system and promote stability and prosperity of Asia in the 21st Century, and contribute to world peace and development."

Kong noted: "The two leaders shared the views that China and India are neighbors, friends, and partners. The development of both China and India is a trend that represents important opportunities to each other and it is important for both sides to enhance mutual trust."

Kong elaborated: "Both sides agreed to upgrade and integrate the existing inter-governmental mechanisms for closer strategic communication. The communication mechanism in military and security fields should effectively enhance the mutual trust between the two sides. The two sides will also launch an early date negotiation on regional trade arrangements and on bilateral investment agreement between China and India, so as to enhance practical cooperation on two-way trade.

"The two sides will also set up a high-level people-to-people exchanges mechanism. And the two sides will also continue to work hard to seek a fair and reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to the boundary questions.

"The two sides will also enhance policy coordination by discussing cooperation in the forms of China-India Plus One or China-India Plus X."

Kong said the informal summit takes an innovative form and has great significance. President Xi Jinping and India Prime Minister Modi have already had more than ten meetings on bilateral and multilateral occasions. This is their 12th meeting since 2014 and the first time for them to have such an informal summit with this kind of arrangements.

Over two days, the two leaders held six events together, including visiting the Hubei Provincial Museum, taking a walk along the riverside, and drinking tea together. They had a one-on-one meeting and in-depth discussions and heart-to-heart conversations.

Kong added the length and scope of their conversation have surpassed their previous discussions.

"For instance, in the Hubei Museum they talked about cultural communication between China and India. During the banquet, they shared with each other their respective visions for the national development and reform measures. When they took a walk on the bank of the Eastern Lake, they discussed how to strengthen ecological protection while speeding up economic development. They have many similar views when they talked about international issues, the historical position of China and India, the development stage and development goals of the two ancient civilizations. During the conversation they found themselves agreeing with each other from time to time. It once again shows that it’s very natural that China and India became partners of cooperation and friends, and win-win cooperation is the right and inevitable choice for both countries."

The friendship and mutual trust between the two leaders have deepened, creating a new way of interaction between them.

Kong also said this is the personal decision of President Xi and Prime Minister Modi to have this informal summit, which reflects the high importance they place on China-India relations. "It also signifies the upgraded version of high-level interactions between the two countries, and will surely give a strong impetus and guidance to China-India cooperation," Kong added.