New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to engage in bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping today during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. This meeting marks the first direct dialogue between the two leaders since the tense Galwan clash in 2020, which left a lasting impact on India-China relations. The anticipation surrounding this meeting follows a recent agreement between New Delhi and Beijing concerning patrolling arrangements along the nearly 3,500-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC) that has been a flashpoint for tensions over the past four years.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the meeting, stating, “I can confirm that there will be a bilateral meeting held between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.” Earlier reports from China also highlighted the confirmation of the agreement regarding the patrolling arrangements. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian commented during a press briefing, "Over the past few weeks, China and India have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border. Now, the two sides have reached a resolution on the relevant matters which China speaks highly of.
Going forward, China will work with India to implement these resolutions." The groundwork for today’s discussions has been laid over recent weeks, with both Indian and Chinese officials reportedly engaging in ongoing negotiations to resolve outstanding issues along the border. Misri noted, “As a result of these discussions, agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020.”
Since the Galwan incident, which resulted in casualties on both sides, PM Modi and President Xi have only convened once for formal talks at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023. There was also a brief informal conversation during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022. As leaders from both nations prepare for this pivotal meeting, the international community watches closely, hoping for a constructive dialogue that could herald a new era of cooperation between the two neighboring giants.