What led to Modi and Xi meeting and thaw in ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time since the deadly border clashes in 2020. This significant meeting took place on October 23, 2024, during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. The two leaders greeted each other with a handshake before discussing the future of their countries' relationship. This meeting was particularly important as it followed an agreement between both nations to work on disengagement and resolving issues along their disputed border. Modi and Xi expressed their commitment to resuming dialogue and improving relations between India and China. So, how did they arrive at this point? The leaders agreed to set an early date for a meeting between their top officials to address the ongoing issues. The relationship between India and China has been strained for decades, primarily due to a long and poorly defined border that stretches over 3,440 kilometers. This border is marked by rivers, lakes, and snow-capped mountains, which can lead to confusion about its exact location. As a result, soldiers from both countries often find themselves face-to-face, sometimes leading to confrontations. The two nations fought a war in 1962, which resulted in a significant defeat for India. Since then, there have been numerous skirmishes between the two sides. In 2019, India repealed Article 370 of its constitution, which granted autonomy to Indian-administered Kashmir. China condemned this move at the United Nations Security Council, as Kashmir includes the high-altitude region of Ladakh, parts of which China claims. The clash in Galwan Valley in 2020 marked the worst confrontation in decades, resulting in the deaths of numerous soldiers. Later that year, both countries withdrew troops from certain areas of the disputed border and pledged to de-escalate tensions, but the situation remained tense. In 2021, troops from both sides clashed again in the northern Sikkim area, and in 2022, there was another confrontation in the Tawang sector of the border. The ongoing military standoff also impacted business relations between the two countries, as India increased scrutiny of Chinese investments and banned several popular Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok. Additionally, India halted direct passenger flights to China. While Wednesday's meeting between Modi and Xi marked their first formal talks since October 2019, the leaders had a brief pull-aside meeting at the G20 summit in Bali in 2022. Following that meeting, China announced that they had reached a consensus to restore bilateral ties. The two leaders also met informally at the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where they agreed to intensify efforts to disengage and de-escalate tensions. Earlier this year, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kazakhstan, where they agreed to step up discussions. Last month, Jaishankar stated that approximately 75% of the disengagement at the border had been resolved. Shortly after, civil aviation authorities from both countries met to discuss the early resumption of direct passenger flights. Several media reports, including Bloomberg, indicated that Indian businesses have been urging the government to relax restrictions on China, arguing that these restrictions hinder India's high-end manufacturing, particularly in the chipmaking sector. However, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India would proceed cautiously when easing restrictions on Chinese businesses. Modi's first visit to China occurred in May 2015, where he met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Recently, Jaishankar announced that both countries had agreed to resume border patrols and return to the situation that existed before the 2020 clash. He stated, 'With that, we can say the disengagement with China has been completed. ' The Indian Army chief mentioned that both countries are now working to restore trust. He emphasized that trust will be built when they can see each other and reassure one another that they are not encroaching on buffer zones that have been established. China's foreign ministry did not provide specific comments regarding the deal but confirmed that both sides had reached resolutions on relevant issues. A spokesperson for the ministry stated, 'China commends the progress made and will continue working with India for the sound implementation of these resolutions. ' What lies ahead? Modi and Xi announced that their special representatives would meet to explore fair and reasonable solutions to the boundary question. India's external affairs ministry stated that their ministers and other officials would also work to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations. The leaders discussed the importance of maintaining good ties, with PM Modi emphasizing that their relationship is vital for global peace. He stated, 'Maintaining peace and stability on the border should remain our priority. Mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of our relations. ' The BRICS summit was attended by leaders from 36 countries who discussed ways to reduce the Global South's dependence on the dollar as a currency for trade. The summit also featured the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. President Xi informed Modi that the international community was closely observing their meeting. He remarked that Delhi and Beijing must set an example for enhancing unity among developing countries and contribute to promoting multipolarity and democracy in international relations. He added, 'China and India are both ancient civilizations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernization endeavors.