For the first time in nearly seven years, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India, attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. His meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to attract substantial attention as both nations aim to mend their strained relations. The countries have been working towards stabilizing ties after a significant military standoff in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The Galwan Valley clash, a notable incident in June 2020, resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, deeply affecting bilateral relations.
Since the 2020 tensions, India and China have made strides towards easing their strained relationship. A notable turning point occurred in October 2024 when both countries reached an agreement on disengagement at Depsang and Demchok. Following this, Modi and Xi met during the BRICS summit in Kazan, where they agreed to revive mechanisms aimed at addressing their ongoing border disputes and rebuilding bilateral ties. This agreement paved the way for the resumption of direct flights between the two nations, the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and continued diplomatic and military discussions focused on maintaining peace along the border.
In recent developments, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August reached an eight-point consensus. This consensus included additional military meeting points, the establishment of new hotline channels, and the reopening of three designated border trading points. Further cementing these efforts, the two countries conducted a corps commander-level meeting in the eastern sector on September 6, underlining their commitment to maintaining peace and stability.
Despite these positive steps, India maintains that achieving complete normalization of relations hinges on ensuring peace and tranquillity along the border. The discussions between Xi and Modi are expected to be indicative of how far both nations are prepared to advance the stabilization process and address the unresolved boundary disputes. The BRICS summit, which Xi will be attending, is also expected to serve as a platform for leaders to deliberate on global political and economic issues, such as conflicts, economic cooperation, and reforms to multilateral institutions.