Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met during the BRICS Summit that was Kazan on October 23, marking their first structured interaction in five years. The meeting came after both countries reached a significant agreement earlier in the week regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, which had been a source of tension since the military standoff in the 2020 (Galwan incident).
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the border, urging that it remains a priority for both nations. He said in a statement that mutual trust and respect should be the cornerstone of India-China relations, which are crucial not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability, and progress.
PM Modi said in a statement:
“This is our first formal meeting after five years. We welcome the consensus reached on the issues that have arisen in the last four years on the border. Maintaining peace and tranquillity should remain our priority, and mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity should guide our relationship,”.
He further pointed out that if the discussions were to happen with an open heart, it would lead to constructive outcomes for both sides.
"India-China relations are crucial for 'GLOBAL PEACE' "
Strong message from PM Modi from BRICS at a time when the US dethroned Sheikh Hasina to destabilize Bharat! pic.twitter.com/U2Eu5PxIpR
— BALA (@erbmjha) October 23, 2024
Taking on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi emphasized that mutual respect and sensitivity would result in the bilateral relationship moving in a positive light. Moreover, he said that India-China relations play a vital role in regional and global peace.
Back story of India-China Tensions
PM Modi and President Xi Jinping last met formally in a bilateral meeting in October 2019 in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Followed by which the June 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley developed that further created tensions between both the nations. Due to the clashes, a military standoff took place which again strained diplomatic ties. After the 2019 meet, the leaders met at the time of the Group of 20 Summit in Bali in 2022 and later in Johannesburg at the 2023 BRICS Summit, however those were not formal and were brief.
The border standoff was the result of 2020 Chinese military actions along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, which led to extended tensions. Recently, an agreement was made between the two countries where both agreed on resuming regular patrolling along the LAC. This move is viewed as a significant development towards de-escalation and a potential turning point in their strained relations.