Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held formal talks on Wednesday. This marked their first official meeting in five years. The meeting signals improving ties between the two nations after their 2020 military clash. The talks took place on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia. Just two days before, India announced a deal with China to resolve the four-year military stand-off on their disputed Himalayan border.
Relations between India and China have been strained since the deadly clash in Ladakh in 2020. The fight left 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers dead. Since then, both countries have increased their military presence along the icy frontier. Thousands of troops and heavy weapons have been added over the past four years. This led to heightened tensions between the world’s two most populous nations, both of which are nuclear powers.
Modi and Xi had not held formal bilateral talks since their summit in October 2019. That meeting took place in the Indian town of Mamallapuram. Though they attended several multilateral events, formal talks remained absent. They briefly spoke at the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022 and again during the Brics summit in Johannesburg in August 2023. However, different versions of their conversations were released, showing a lack of mutual understanding. Xi then skipped the G20 summit hosted by India in September, further complicating relations.
In recent months, diplomatic efforts between the two countries gained momentum. In July, their foreign ministers met and agreed to continue discussions aimed at easing border tensions. As India linked improving political and business relations to resolving the border dispute, the recent talks between Modi and Xi could lead to more Chinese investment in India. The resolution of the border conflict seems critical to any further cooperation.
India Tightens Restrictions on Chinese Investments
Since the Ladakh clashes, India increased scrutiny on Chinese investments and blocked direct flights between the two countries. Additionally, visa issuance to Chinese nationals has been significantly limited. This week, both New Delhi and Beijing confirmed that they had reached a border pact, though details of the deal remain scarce. Neither side has provided specific information on how the stand-off will be resolved.
An Indian military source told Reuters that the deal would allow both countries to patrol contested areas according to an agreed schedule. This arrangement aims to prevent future confrontations on the frontier. The move could be seen as a step toward reducing tensions and restoring stability along the border.
These talks between Modi and Xi mark a significant moment in India-China relations. The two nations, often at odds, are now taking steps toward resolving their differences. If the border conflict is settled, both countries may see an improvement in diplomatic and economic ties. However, the future remains uncertain, and much will depend on the implementation of the recent agreements.
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