Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India for the first time in almost seven years, participating in the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled in New Delhi on September 12-13. The anticipated meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to garner significant attention, as both nations aim to mend their relations.
The visit is particularly noteworthy as India and China have been striving to ease tensions that escalated following a military standoff in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The situation reached a peak with the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, severely straining bilateral relations. Efforts to improve ties began after an agreement in October 2024 on disengagement at Depsang and Demchok was reached. Subsequently, Modi and Xi met at the BRICS summit in Kazan, where they concurred on revitalizing mechanisms to address the ongoing border dispute and rebuild their relationship.
Since that agreement, there has been a gradual reopening in communications and activities between the two nations. This includes the resumption of direct flights and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, alongside ongoing diplomatic and military dialogues aimed at maintaining border peace. In August, a significant development occurred when National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi established an eight-point consensus. This consensus encompasses additional military meeting points, the introduction of new hotline channels, and the reopening of three designated border trading points. Moreover, on September 6, a corps commander-level meeting was conducted in the eastern sector.
India continues to emphasize that achieving peace and tranquillity along the border is crucial for the full normalization of relations. The discussions between Xi and Modi are anticipated to reflect the extent to which both countries are willing to advance the stabilization process while addressing the unresolved boundary issues. The BRICS summit will serve as a platform not only for these bilateral talks but also for leaders to engage in discussions on broader global political and economic issues, including conflicts, economic cooperation, and reform of multilateral institutions.