Janice R. Andrews
The leaders of India and China held their first in-person meeting since the 2020 border crisis during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping’s encounter follows a recent breakthrough agreement to resume joint border patrols, potentially easing four years of heightened tensions along their disputed boundary.
The 2020 Ladakh confrontation, which resulted in casualties and led to massive troop deployments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marked the worst border conflict between the two Asian giants in recent history. While the new patrol agreement signals progress toward regional stability, border issues remain complex.
Diplomatic relations have remained cool since 2020, with limited progress despite numerous talks. Though Modi and Xi briefly interacted at international forums in Bali (2022) and Johannesburg (2023), conflicting official accounts of these exchanges highlighted ongoing tensions. Xi’s notable absence from India’s 2023 G20 summit further underscored the diplomatic strain.
The Kazan BRICS summit, hosted by Russia, served as the backdrop for this significant meeting. Russian President Putin, seeking to strengthen global partnerships amid Western sanctions, emphasized BRICS’ expanding influence, noting strong interest from over 30 potential new members.
Putin stressed the emergence of a multipolar world order driven by rising Global South and Eastern nations, highlighting BRICS’ role in addressing international conflicts. Modi shared this positive outlook, emphasizing BRICS’ substantial global footprint – representing 40% of world population and 30% of global GDP – and its potential to tackle future challenges.
The meeting marks a cautious step toward diplomatic renewal, though both nations remain mindful of their complex border dynamics.
