India China relations thaw as the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently held their first formal talks in five years. The meeting occurred on Wednesday during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. This critical dialogue comes on the heels of an agreement to resolve a four-year military standoff along their disputed Himalayan border. This has long been a source of tension between the two countries.
As Modi and Xi shook hands in front of their national flags, they highlighted the importance of addressing disputes constructively. Xi acknowledged that both nations are at a critical juncture and urged them to manage their differences effectively. He emphasized the need for both countries to shoulder their international responsibilities during this crucial time. Additionally, he stressed the importance of setting a positive example for developing nations across the globe to follow.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that both leaders recognized the need of preserving cordial and stable ties. He also stated that strong connections between China and India, as neighbors, may greatly improve regional and global peace.
This critical discussion also comes in light of a deadly clash in 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers along the largely un-demarcated Ladakh frontier. That incident soured relations between the two nations and led both sides to bolster their military presence along the border. Although Modi and Xi have attended several multilateral events since their last formal talks in October 2019, those discussions were often brief and lacked depth.
However, recent diplomatic attempts have gained traction, particularly after both nations’ foreign ministers met in July to discuss border concerns. The new pact focuses on military patrols along the border. Although it remains unclear whether it covers the entire length of the border or only specific points of conflict. Border issues continue to be contentious, particularly as China claims India’s Arunachal Pradesh as part of its Tibet region. This further complicates the India China relations.
