Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold a bilateral meeting on October 23, 2024, during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. This will be their first structured dialogue since the border tensions between India and China began in May 2020 over the eastern Ladakh region.
Significant Breakthrough on Border Patrolling
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the meeting, just a day after India and China reached a significant agreement regarding military patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This breakthrough aims to ease the four-year-long standoff between the two countries.
“I can confirm that there will be a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping tomorrow,” Misri stated, adding that it will take place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
Previous Interactions Between Modi and Xi
Modi and Xi had previously exchanged pleasantries during the G20 leaders’ dinner in November 2022, and they also had a brief conversation in August 2023 at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. However, this upcoming meeting marks their first structured conversation since the Ladakh border crisis began.
Focus on Disengagement and De-escalation
Regarding the recent patrolling agreement, Misri highlighted that the immediate priority is to disengage troops in the contested areas, with de-escalation and troop withdrawal being addressed at a later stage. The agreement focuses on resuming patrolling and grazing activities in areas under discussion, restoring conditions to how they were in 2020.
Reducing Clashes at the LAC
Misri expressed optimism that the agreement would help prevent future clashes along the LAC, as both sides work to implement the deal. He emphasized that the mechanisms established by the agreement should help avoid incidents like the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which led to a significant deterioration in India-China relations.
Long-standing Issues in Depsang and Demchok
While both nations have disengaged from several conflict points through military and diplomatic negotiations, challenges remain in resolving issues in Depsang and Demchok. The recent agreement is expected to address patrolling concerns in these areas, helping ease tensions further.
The meeting between Modi and Xi is being closely watched as both leaders seek to navigate complex diplomatic and military issues between their countries.