India and China on Path to Mending Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meet on Sidelines of BRICS Summit
NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia, marking their first formal talks in five years. The meeting is a significant step towards mending India-China ties, which were strained following a deadly military clash in 2020.
Boost in Communication and Cooperation
The two leaders agreed to boost communication and cooperation between their countries, with the aim of resolving conflicts and improving ties. They directed their officials to take further steps to stabilize all aspects of bilateral ties.
Rapprochement Expected to Boost Chinese Investment in India
The rapprochement is expected to boost Chinese investment in India, as the two countries maintain strong trade ties despite military and diplomatic tensions. India and China, two of the world’s largest economies, have found ways to mitigate the impact of the tensions on their economic ties.
Path to Improving Ties
Relations between India and China have been strained since a clash between their troops on the largely undemarcated frontier in the western Himalayas left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead in 2020. The neighbors have added tens of thousands of troops and weapons along the icy frontier over the last four years.
Attempts at Diplomacy
Modi and Xi had not held formal bilateral talks since the 2019 summit in Mamallapuram. They spoke briefly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022 and the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August 2023, but released different versions of the conversation, suggesting they didn’t see eye to eye.
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Diplomatic efforts gained momentum in recent months after the two countries’ foreign ministers met in July and agreed to step up talks to ease border tensions. India had made improving the wider political and damaged business ties contingent upon finding a solution to the border stand-off.
Stepping Stones to Better Relations
The meeting between Xi and Modi in Kazan comes two days after New Delhi said it had reached a deal with Beijing to resolve the four-year military stand-off in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, although neither side has shared details of the pact. The restoration of peace and tranquility on the border will create space for the normalization of their bilateral relations, as per Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Conclusion
The meeting between Xi and Modi marks a significant step towards mending ties between India and China. The rapprochement is expected to boost economic ties and promote greater cooperation between the two countries. With the leaders’ agreement to strengthen communication and cooperation, the road to improving relations is paved with hope.
FAQs
- What was the outcome of the meeting between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi?
The meeting led to an agreement to boost communication and cooperation between India and China, with a focus on resolving conflicts and improving ties. - What was the purpose of the meeting?
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia and was their first formal talks in five years. - What is the current state of India-China ties?
India-China relations have been strained since a deadly military clash in 2020, but both countries maintain strong trade ties despite the tensions. - What are the next steps for India and China to improve ties?
The two countries will continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to ease border tensions and improve relations, with a focus on enhancing cooperation and communication.