Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet for a bilateral discussion in Kazan during the BRICS leadership summit. News 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, marking a significant step in diplomatic relations between India and China. The meeting is expected to address crucial issues, especially following recent developments concerning border security and military tensions.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the bilateral discussion will take place on Wednesday, stating, “I can confirm that there will be a bilateral meeting held between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.” This meeting comes at a time when both nations are seeking to stabilize their interactions after years of tensions along their shared border.
Recently, India and China announced a breakthrough in easing the long-standing military standoff that began over four years ago. On Monday, both countries agreed on new patrolling protocols along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Misri explained that “In the pending areas under discussion, patrolling and indeed grazing activities, wherever applicable, will revert to the situation as it obtained in 2020.” He emphasized that this agreement focused on outstanding issues and did not revisit earlier disengagement agreements.
On Tuesday, China echoed India’s sentiments, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian confirming the deal aimed at resolving tensions between the two armies in eastern Ladakh. “Over a recent period of time, China and India have kept close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border,” Lin stated, highlighting the importance of ongoing dialogue.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also spoke on the significance of maintaining peace along the border as vital for fostering positive relations. He noted, “That was our major concern because we always said that if you disturb the peace and tranquillity, how do you expect the rest of the relationship to go forward?” His comments underscore the broader implications of the border situation on overall diplomatic ties.
In past negotiations, India has consistently pushed for the disengagement of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from areas like Depsang and Demchok, which have been hotspots of contention. Jaishankar expressed optimism, suggesting that the new understanding would allow India to resume patrolling in Depsang and other key regions. “So what has happened is that we reached an understanding which will allow the patrolling which you spoke about Depsang, that’s not the only place,” he said. He assured that the patrolling will revert to the status seen in 2020, prior to the onset of the standoff.
The ongoing negotiations have been pivotal since the tensions escalated in September 2020, and both sides have been working to restore peace and communication channels. As Modi and Xi prepare for their meeting, the international community watches closely, hoping that this dialogue will pave the way for lasting solutions to the border disputes and enhance cooperative ties between the two nations.
