According to international observers, it is a pragmatic truce within the framework of a long rivalry. The diplomatic representatives of both countries will resume meetings in Ladakh to manage the controversy along the border. Dialogue with everyone helps Modi show himself as a credible leader of the global South.
Kazan (/Agencies) – For the first time in almost five years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a formal meeting yesterday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit that concludes today in Kazan, Russia. The meeting was anticipated by the announcement that an agreement had been reached on the patrolling of what is called the “Line of Actual Control” (LAC), the border of approximately 3 thousand kilometers that separates the two countries in the disputed region of Ladakh.
Relations were frozen when a border clash occurred in 2020 and 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed, putting a brake on diplomatic meetings and trade. Yesterday’s meeting between Modi and Xi constitutes the first step towards a different approach to relations, although – experts say – it is probably nothing more than a pragmatic truce within the framework of a long rivalry.
“Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of not allowing differences on border issues to disturb peace and tranquility on our borders,” India’s Deputy Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press conference. The two leaders agreed on the “crucial role” played by the “special representatives on the India-China border issue”, a role assumed by India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, and the foreign minister. from China, Wang Yi. “Both leaders are convinced that stable bilateral relations between China and India, the two most populous countries on the planet, will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity,” added the undersecretary, and stressed, to this end, the need to return “to the path of normalization” of relations.
Responding to a question about Moscow’s role in mediation between the two neighbors, Undersecretary Misri responded: “We are in Kazan, which is in Russia. And we thank Russia for providing the venue.”
The statement released by the chinese media is similar to that of India: “The two sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, resolve conflicts and differences and achieve their respective development goals,” the news agency wrote. Xinhua.
For the past four years, Xi and Modi had met on the sidelines of major multilateral events, but last year the Chinese president did not attend the G20 in New Delhi. After the clashes on the Ladakh border, India tightened controls on Chinese investments, blocked direct civilian flights between the two countries (although maintained commercial ones) and hindered the granting of visas to Chinese citizens.
Some observers have pointed out China’s need to mitigate geopolitical tensions to cope with an economy that remains stagnant. But above all it is Delhi which depends on Beijing for its industrial production: in 2020 Indian exports to China amounted to 16.61 billion dollars and remained stable at 16.65 billion last year. Imports from China, however, went from $65.26 billion in 2020 to $101.74 billion in the last fiscal year.
India maintains close ties with Russia (from which it buys oil at reduced prices despite international sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine), but it also maintains close ties with Western allies and is part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), the forum dialogue that brings together the United States, Australia and Japan to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. Showing willingness to dialogue with China, his historical rival, helps Modi present himself as a credible leader of the global South.
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