New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold a significant bilateral meeting during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on Tuesday. This encounter marks their first formal dialogue since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which had deeply strained India-China relations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the upcoming meeting, highlighting the recent positive developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). After years of tension, both nations have reached a consensus on a new patrolling arrangement aimed at restoring stability along the border.
“This meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit will proceed as planned,” said Mr. Misri, adding that the talks underscore the progress in bilateral ties.
Since the 2020 standoff in Galwan, interactions between the two leaders have been sparse. Their only formal meeting took place at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August 2023, with brief informal exchanges during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
The breakthrough in the border arrangement is seen as a crucial step toward de-escalation. Both sides had stationed thousands of troops along the LAC for the past four years, but the new agreement aims to restore the pre-2020 status quo and rebuild trust.
The Galwan clash on June 15, 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides, marked one of the most severe confrontations between the two nations in recent years. Since then, efforts toward normalization have been slow, impacting not just diplomatic relations but also trade, travel, and investments.
In addition to diplomatic strain, bilateral cooperation faced challenges, such as the suspension of direct flights for four years and extra security clearances for Chinese investments and personnel.
The upcoming Modi-Xi meeting signals renewed efforts toward stability and cooperation, with leaders from Brazil, Russia, and South Africa also attending the summit.
