Modi, Xi to hold bilateral meeting at BRICS Summit in New
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for the first time in seven years to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. According to people familiar with the matter, this will be Xi's first visit to India in seven years, his last trip having occurred in 2019.
These discussions will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to take stock of bilateral relations. They are also expected to discuss global issues, including the war in Ukraine and the West Asia conflict.
Focus on Border Normalization
The Modi-Xi meeting is anticipated to focus heavily on the process of normalizing India-China relations. A military standoff in Ladakh that began in 2020 took ties to a six-decade low. The two leaders unveiled confidence-building measures when they met in October 2024, following an understanding to end that Ladakh face-off.
Since that 2024 meeting, several steps have been taken to rebuild ties. Direct flights between the countries have resumed. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage has been revived. Border trade has also started through three designated routes.
Diplomatic and Military Channels Active
Diplomatic mechanisms on the border issue have seen activity. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs and the Special Representatives have met multiple times. They have discussed matters such as a potential "early harvest" in boundary demarcation.
Military engagement is also scheduled. The first meeting of senior military commanders from both sides in the Arunachal Pradesh sector will be held this week. Their agenda is to discuss maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border.
Persistent Points of Contention
Despite these efforts, significant differences remain. The Indian side has consistently stated that the state of the border will determine the overall course of bilateral ties. Several Chinese policies continue to be points of friction.
China maintains restrictions on visas for Indian businessmen. Beijing has also placed curbs on exports of key technologies and equipment to India. Also, China insists the border issue should be separated from the development of the wider relationship, a position New Delhi contests.
The upcoming meeting follows reports of fresh tensions between Indian and Chinese troops at Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh. The people cited by Hindustan Times said the summit will be an opportunity to raise such issues.
Other Bilateral Engagements
Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic schedule at the summit is full. He is also expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday. Modi met both leaders recently on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Kyrgyzstan on August 31.
