Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold their first formal bilateral meeting in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, marking a potential thaw in relations between the two neighboring giants. This highly anticipated meeting follows years of strained ties after deadly clashes along their disputed border in the Himalayan region of Ladakh in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, comes just days after both nations reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along their contested frontier. Indian officials have confirmed that this progress on border de-escalation was key to enabling the Modi-Xi meeting. Vikram Misri, a senior official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, announced on Tuesday that the leaders would meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, which is being hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The last formal meeting between Modi and Xi occurred in October 2019, when Xi visited India. However, relations deteriorated rapidly following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. Since then, both countries have bolstered their military presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with tens of thousands of troops deployed. The conflict has also impacted economic relations, with India implementing measures to curb Chinese investments and banning numerous Chinese apps, including the popular TikTok.
Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions have been underway for years, with both sides withdrawing troops from the frontlines and creating buffer zones in the conflict areas. However, India has remained firm in its stance that relations cannot fully normalize unless the status quo along the LAC is restored to pre-2020 conditions.
This upcoming meeting between Modi and Xi is significant not just for bilateral ties, but also for the broader geopolitical landscape. India and China, both members of the BRICS bloc, have been at odds in several international forums, including on issues related to trade, technology, and regional security. India’s strategic tilt toward the United States and its involvement in the Quad—a group comprising India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—has been viewed with suspicion by Beijing. The Quad is seen as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
For China, restoring economic ties with India is crucial. India, with its fast-growing economy, presents a vast market for Chinese companies. Beijing is expected to push for the normalization of trade and economic relations during the upcoming discussions. However, New Delhi has been cautious, prioritizing its own security and economic interests, and has invited Western companies to invest in its critical sectors such as defense and technology.
The BRICS summit itself, hosted by Putin, focuses on “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,” and serves as a platform for emerging economies to collaborate on key global issues. The inclusion of new members like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and others in BRICS further underscores the bloc’s growing importance as a counterweight to Western dominance.
As Modi and Xi prepare to meet, the world will be watching closely to see if this could lead to a breakthrough in India-China relations or merely a temporary de-escalation of tensions. The outcome of their talks could have significant implications not only for their bilateral relations but also for the broader geopolitical dynamics of Asia.
All News View   Facebook
