Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Saturday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, in the latest effort by the two nations to repair relations strained by a deadly border clash six years ago.
Xi stated that China approaches relations with India from a "strategic and long-term perspective," advocating for mutual support and common development. He also urged "high-quality cooperation" and emphasized that China and India, as significant members of the Global South, should work towards a more multipolar world and contribute to global peace and stability.
Modi expressed gratitude to Xi for China's cooperation in hosting the summit, noting that China is scheduled to host the event next year. The two leaders previously met in China last year during Modi's visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
This meeting marks Xi's first visit to India since 2019 and represents another attempt at a cautious thaw between the two neighboring rivals, whose relationship was severely impacted by a military clash in 2020. That confrontation resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese personnel along a contested border in the Ladakh region. The incident led to a protracted standoff in the rugged terrain, with both sides deploying substantial military forces.
Despite subsequent steps taken to ease tensions, deep-seated mistrust persists between the two nuclear-armed powers. They continue to dispute portions of their border, and India's significant trade deficit with China, restrictions on Chinese investment and technology, and competing strategic interests in Asia continue to complicate their relationship. Both nations have been bolstering their military infrastructure along the disputed frontier.
Xi's visit is seen as a test of whether the recent easing of tensions can lead to a broader stabilization of bilateral ties. Since their 1962 war, both countries have experienced substantial economic growth, with China's economy significantly outpacing India's and maintaining a large trade surplus. This economic disparity and rivalry contribute to their existing territorial and strategic differences.
India has been positioning itself as an alternative manufacturing base for foreign companies, seeking to leverage China's rising labor costs and the strained relationships between China and Western nations. New Delhi has also expressed concern over China's Belt and Road Initiative and has actively opposed it. Concurrently, India's strengthening strategic partnership with the United States has raised concerns in Beijing, which views the alliance as an effort to counterbalance China's growing influence.