PM Modi And Xi Jinping Hold First Bilateral Meeting In Five Years At BRICS Summit In Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in nearly five years during the BRICS Summit in Russia, signaling a significant thaw in relations between the two countries. This meeting comes after tensions escalated following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley in 2020. PM Modi welcomed the recent agreement on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control, underscoring the importance of managing differences without compromising peace. He stated, “Border peace should be our priority,” highlighting India's commitment to maintaining stability. President Xi emphasized the need for enhanced communication and cooperation between India and China, recognizing their roles as major developing nations and members of the Global South. Following the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that the special representatives of both countries would renew talks that had been stalled since 2019. Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, and China's Foreign Minister are expected to meet at an appropriate date to discuss modalities for border talks. This meeting in Kazan marks a crucial step in mending ties, particularly as there have been no substantial bilateral discussions on trade, economics, or other issues in the past five years. The two leaders have only had brief interactions at recent summits.