Historic Bilateral Talks: PM Modi and Xi Jinping Meet at BRICS Summit, First Formal Dialogue Since the 2020 Galwan Clash!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to engage in a historic bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, today. This marks their first formal discussion since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, an event that significantly strained India-China relations and triggered a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A Long-Awaited Encounter
Since the tensions escalated after the Galwan clash, the two leaders have only met once formally, during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023. There was also a brief informal interaction during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. However, today’s meeting is crucial for restoring diplomatic ties that have been rocky over the past few years.
Progress in De-Escalation Efforts
The meeting comes on the heels of a recent agreement between India and China to resume joint patrolling along the disputed 3,500-kilometer LAC. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the significance of this 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.”
This arrangement signifies a step forward in de-escalating the ongoing border tensions that have persisted for over four years. Misri elaborated that the agreement will allow patrolling and grazing activities to revert to the pre-2020 situation in the pending areas under discussion.
The Importance of the Meeting
The discussions will be pivotal as it is the first formal meeting since the Mahabalipuram encounter in 2019. The need for diplomacy and dialogue is more pressing than ever, as both nations work to resolve outstanding friction points along the LAC. As the world watches closely, today’s meeting between Modi and Xi holds the potential to reshape India-China relations for years to come.
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