President Xi Jinping (5th R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (4th L) in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 9, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The president said the two countries should increase communication and coordination in multilateral affairs and appropriately control and handle disputes and sensitive problems.

He also called for more subnational, cultural and tourism exchanges, among others, between the neighbors.

Xi congratulated India on becoming a full member of the SCO at the Astana summit, adding that China is willing to cooperate with India within the SCO framework for the healthy and sustained development of the organization.

Modi said a sound India-China relationship will help stabilize the volatile international situation.

The prime minister said the two sides should tap their potential in cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs, respect each other's core concerns and appropriately handle their disputes.

Modi said India is grateful for China's support for India's accession to the SCO and will work closely with China as part of the organization.

Jiang Jingkui, director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Peking University, said India's entry into the SCO provides a new channel for closer interaction between Beijing and New Delhi.

"The SCO is a regional bloc in which China-India cooperation can also extend to other affairs in the region. The SCO will provide a new angle for bilateral ties."

Xinhua contributed to this story.

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