PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Xi Jinping, first official meet in 5 years

This is PM Modi and Xi Jinping's first formal meeting in five years since 2019, and it came just days after India said it reached a truce with China to resume patrolling in disputed areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, ending a four-year military standoff. 

In Short

• First formal meet between PM Modi, Xi Jinping since 2019
• The meeting came two days after India-China border agreement
• Both leaders met at a formal dinner on Tuesday night

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in five years on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in Russia’s Kazan. The much-anticipated meeting on Wednesday followed a major border agreement between the neighbours who were locked in a military standoff since 2020.

Their last formal meeting was in October 2019, in the backdrop of the 7th century Panch Ratha monument in Mamallapuram.

During the meeting, PM Modi welcomed the India-China border agreement and said that the ties between both nations are "very important not only for our people, but also for global peace, stability, and progress."

"We welcome the consensus reached on the issues that have arisen in the last 4 years on the border. Maintaining peace and stability on the border should remain our priority. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of our relations," he added.

Meanwhile, Xi Jinping called for India and China to strengthen communication and cooperation, emphasising their roles as major developing nations and members of the Global South.

"It's important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle our differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other's pursuit of development aspirations. It's also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries and to contribute to promoting multi-polarization and democracy in international relations," Xi Jinping stated.

In an official statement issued by China, Xi, in the meeting, urged both countries to "correctly grasp the historical trends" in their relationship.

He noted that enhancing collaboration and addressing differences would serve the "fundamental interests" of both nations and their people. Xi also highlighted the importance of India and China working together to promote a multipolar world and democratise international relations.

The recent bilateral talks between PM Modi and Xi Jinping also hold significance as they come just two days after India said it reached a truce with China to resume patrolling in disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, ending a four-year military standoff.

China also confirmed that it had “reached a solution” and would “work with India” to “effectively implement” the plan.

The patrolling arrangement came four years after the Galwan Valley clash, signalling de-escalation in a region where both countries stationed tens of thousands of troops.

There have been few brief interactions between the two leaders since the hand-to-hand combat between India and Chinese troops in the Galwan valley -- on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022 and the Brics summit in South Africa in August 2023. However, no bilateral talks discussing trade, economic and other factors happened.

The breakthrough in the patrolling agreement came after 17 diplomatic meetings, and 21 rounds of military dialogue.

The disengagement agreement will facilitate the Indian military to resume patrolling up to their old stations in Depsang and Demchok -- the two major friction points that were left to be settled between the two nations. The disagreements have already been sorted in Gogra-Hot Springs, Pangong lake, and Galwan valley.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.