Modi Emphasizes Border Peace for Improved India-China Relations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that peace along the border is crucial to strengthening bilateral relations with China during a meeting at the BRICS Summit. This comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first visit to India since 2019, signaling improved diplomatic ties following years of tension after a deadly 2020 border clash. Modi and Xi agreed on resolving border disputes in a 'fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable' manner during their bilateral meeting. They also acknowledged the need for strategic long-term cooperation to avoid letting differences escalate into conflicts. The two leaders addressed economic issues such as India's significant trade deficit with China ($112.16 billion) and supply chain concerns. The recent thaw in relations includes resumed direct flights, reopened Silk Road routes, and relaxed investment rules from India toward Chinese investors. Last month’s 25th round of border talks produced eight points of consensus, indicating progress on a decades-old issue that once led to war between the two nations.
