Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in a bilateral meeting on August 31 at Tianjin, China, during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The encounter is the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in almost a year after a time of strained relations.
A Step Toward Normalising Bilateral Ties
The two leaders had their last summit in October last year, following which India and China declared a breakthrough in de-escalation talks after their military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The current summit is viewed as a key step towards normalizing strained relations since a fatal border clash in 2020.
Diplomatic efforts made recently have paved the way for this top-level meeting. In the last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had called on President Xi Jinping in China, where he presented greetings from PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting that he had “apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties.”
Resumption Of Flights And Visas Signal Thaw
As a harbinger of what may be a thaw, a number of high-priority initiatives have in recent times been concluded between the two countries. Following discussions between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, the two agreed to resume direct flights and ease visas for tourists, business persons, and media workers. These are being regarded as a step towards the restoration of trust and collaboration between the two economic powers.
When China Declared Border Conflict With India Is ‘Complex’, Prepared For Delimitation Negotiation
Earlier in July, China said the boundary dispute with India is a complex problem that will take time to resolve, but was willing to negotiate the demarcation of the boundary and ensure peace and tranquillity. This followed a meeting between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave.
India Suggested ‘Structured Roadmap’ To Fill Trust Deficit
In their Qingdao, China, meeting on June 26, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh suggested that India and China should do a “structured roadmap” to solve “complex problems.” This roadmap, he added, must have de-escalation of tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and re-focusing on demarcating the boundary. Singh also underlined the requirement for “action on the ground” to close the “trust deficit” that has continued from the 2020 border face-off. He also informed Dong about the Pahalgam terror attack recently and India’s reaction, Operation Sindoor.
In reply to a question regarding Singh’s statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning emphasized the in-place “Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism” for the boundary issue and the channels for diplomatic and military communication at different levels. Although reaffirming the complexity of the matter, Mao stated, “China is willing to continue communication with India on such matters as delimitation negotiation and border management, jointly keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil, and promote cross-border exchange and cooperation.”
The 23rd round of SR-level dialogue, which took place last December between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, had positively consolidated a disengagement understanding in October last year. Both have assented to proceed with these talks, the next round of which is likely in China.
ALSO READ | Monsoon Havoc: 50-km Traffic Jam Brings Thousands To A Standstill On Chandigarh-Kullu Highway