PM Modi To Meet Xi Jinping For Bilateral Talks Amid Border Issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. This marks their first formal discussion since the 2020 Galwan clash.

The meeting comes shortly after India and China reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the nearly 3,500-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). This agreement aims to de-escalate tensions that have persisted for four years, culminating in the fatal clash in the Galwan Valley.

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.”

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China also acknowledged the recent agreement. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, reported that “over the past few weeks, China and India have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels.” He emphasized that the two countries had reached a resolution regarding border issues, which China welcomes.

On Monday, Misri reiterated this development, stating that Indian and Chinese negotiators have been actively engaging in discussions. He noted that the agreement on patrolling arrangements signifies progress toward disengagement and resolution of issues that arose after the 2020 incident.

Since the Galwan clash, Modi and Xi have met formally only once, during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023. There was also a brief informal interaction at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022.

As the leaders prepare for their meeting, all eyes are on whether they can further ease tensions and foster cooperation between the two nations.