Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping Forge Path to De-escalation Amid Brics Summit

 

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping Forge Path to De-escalation Amid Brics Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a crucial conversation on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, marking a significant step toward resolving the ongoing military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Modi emphasized the necessity of maintaining peace and tranquility along the border areas and respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as pivotal elements for the normalization of Sino-Indian relations, which have been strained due to the unresolved conflict.

 

The interaction, although not officially labeled as a bilateral meeting by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, captured the essence of the relationship between the two leaders. During this exchange, Prime Minister Modi underscored India's concerns about the unresolved issues along the LAC. Both leaders arrived at a consensus to actively pursue early disengagement and de-escalation efforts.

 

Notably, this conversation marks another chapter in the diplomatic dialogue between Modi and Xi. While they conversed during the Bali G20 summit the previous year, this exchange held additional significance. Unlike the previous instance where the leaders agreed on the importance of improving bilateral ties, this time Modi reasserted India's position that peace at the border is a prerequisite for returning to normalcy in the relationship.

 

The leaders took a concrete step forward by instructing their respective officials to intensify efforts for a swift disengagement and de-escalation process. Kwatra highlighted the indispensability of maintaining peace in border areas and adhering to the LAC in order to restore normalcy to the relationship.

 

Details on whether Modi extended an invitation to Xi for the upcoming G20 summit or whether Xi expressed plans to visit India for the meeting remain undisclosed. The origin of the conversation is also yet to be clarified, but it occurred amidst renewed efforts to push forward the disengagement process.

 

In the lead-up to the summit, India and China engaged in the 19th round of military talks to address the standoff in eastern Ladakh, which commenced in April 2020. Although the talks did not yield a breakthrough, the positive tone of the joint statement characterizing the discussions as constructive raised prospects for a meeting between the two leaders.

The momentum of military discussions continues, and both nations hold optimism for positive outcomes ahead of the G20 summit, scheduled to be hosted by India on September 9-10. Despite their bilateral differences, India is keen on welcoming Xi to this significant multilateral event, which holds historical significance. The recent exchange between Modi and Xi at the BRICS event was the third time they met since the Galwan clash in June 2020, after previous encounters at the SCO summit in Samarkand and the G20 Bali summit.

 

Notably, India promptly confirmed the Modi-Xi conversation on this occasion, unlike the Bali talks, which were acknowledged by India only after an eight-month delay and subsequent to China's public disclosure.

 

During the BRICS event, Modi and Xi were observed exchanging pleasantries and handshakes as they took their respective seats. The camaraderie extended beyond diplomatic discussions, as Xi applauded when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Modi on the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission during a media event where the expansion of BRICS was announced. This nuanced interaction hints at the underlying dynamics and gestures shaping the complex relationship between two significant global powers.