New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking their first such meeting since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the BRICS Summit, which India is hosting. The proposed meeting with Modi is being closely watched as the two countries have been working to improve bilateral ties after years of tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
The meeting, if held as expected, would be significant as it would come after the deadly Galwan Valley confrontation in June 2020, which severely strained India-China relations. The clash led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and also resulted in Chinese casualties. India and China have since taken several steps to ease tensions along the border. The two sides reached an understanding on patrolling arrangements in eastern Ladakh in 2024, helping pave the way for a gradual improvement in relations. Modi and Xi had previously held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024. That was their first formal bilateral interaction in five years following the 2020 border clash. Their proposed meeting in New Delhi would come against the backdrop of continued efforts to stabilise ties.
The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues, with border peace likely to remain an important area of discussion. Trade, economic cooperation and broader regional and international developments could also figure in their talks. Xi's proposed visit would be his first trip to India in seven years. His participation in the BRICS Summit comes as New Delhi seeks to use its BRICS presidency to strengthen cooperation among member countries and promote a greater role for the Global South. The proposed Modi-Xi meeting also comes at a time when economic engagement between India and China is showing signs of recovery, although significant differences and mutual concerns remain. Both countries have been cautiously working towards improving ties while continuing to manage unresolved strategic and security issues.
The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The gathering will bring together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping, with discussions expected to cover global governance, economic cooperation, development and other international issues.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.