In a bid to dissolve the tension between the two nuclear-armed nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday before the start of a regional summit in Tianjin.
Since ties between the two countries soured following fatal border clashes between Chinese and Indian troops in the Galwan Valley in 2020. This is Modi’s first visit to China in seven years. The Indian prime minister’s visit to China is part of the country’s membership to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional political, economic, and security organisation established by China.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited New Delhi, India earlier in August to announce the two countries’ rapprochement ahead of Modi’s visit. Both countries promised to resume direct flights, visa issuance, and border negotiations.
Although US President Donald Trump decided to impose 50 percent tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil at the same time as Wang’s visit, New Delhi has been working for months to mend its relationship with China.
This year, there have been more official visits between China and India, and there have been talks to relax some limitations on cross-border travel and trade. Beijing let Indian pilgrims to travel to Tibet’s sacred sites from June.
Xi and Modi met, shook hands and posed for cameras at the Tianjin Guest House on Sunday. The SCO summit comes as both countries are subject to heavy US tariffs and western scrutiny over their ties with Russia as the war in Ukraine rages.
Modi thanked Xi for his invitation to China and said an “agreement has been reached” between special representatives from both nations regarding “border management” in reference to tensions along their disputed border.
“We are committed to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust and respect,” the Indian prime minister said.
The Indian leader’s presence and the meeting with Xi represent a turning point in Beijing-New Delhi relations, which have started to improve. This change is especially beneficial to India in the aftermath of a deteriorating turn in US-Indian relations in recent weeks.
According to Russian state media, Modi will have the chance to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his China visit. The two are scheduled to have bilateral talks on Monday. These follow the implementation of significant US tariffs on Indian exports related to purchase of Russian oil, which Washington believes are contributing to the financing of Putin’s Ukraine war.
As Western leaders increase pressure on Putin and his allies to halt the Ukraine war, which has been going on from 2020, it will cast a shadow over the SCO summit and the diplomatic frenzy surrounding it.