Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, their first meeting since 2019. The meeting came after a breakthrough in negotiations, with both countries agreeing on a patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control, or de-facto border, in Ladakh. The agreement signals a return to the pre-2020 status quo after a military stand-off. Modi and Xi emphasized the importance of trust, respect, and sensitivity in their bilateral relations, and the need for cooperation and communication. They also touched on the potential for mutual benefit and progress not only for their own countries, but also for the global community. This meeting marks a significant step towards normalization of ties, including trade, economic, and people-to-people connections, which had been strained since the 2020 Galwan clash. The meeting’s outcome will determine if relations will return to normalcy.
‘Building bridges, not barriers; fostering harmony, not confrontation – mutual understanding and respect must be our priority’, says PM Modi to President Xi
