Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a significant bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia, marking their first direct conversation since the 2020 Galwan clash. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the meeting, emphasizing its importance in light of recent improvements in India-China relations.

The upcoming talks come after a consensus on a new patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), aiming to stabilize a region that has seen heightened military tensions in recent years. This development is viewed as a confidence-building measure, seeking to restore some degree of normalcy to the bilateral relationship.

Since the Galwan Valley clash on June 15, 2020, where both nations faced casualties, interactions between the two leaders have been limited. They have had brief exchanges at international forums, including the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022 and the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August 2023.

The new patrolling agreement represents a return to pre-2020 conditions, highlighting a potential thaw in relations after years of military buildup along the border. While there has been gradual de-escalation, a complete return to the status quo before the Galwan incident has remained elusive.

The strained relations have also impacted various sectors, including travel and commerce, with no direct flights between India and China for four years and heightened scrutiny on Chinese investments in India.

As Modi and Xi prepare to meet in Kazan, their discussions will be closely monitored for indications of a lasting resolution to ongoing tensions and a path forward for bilateral ties.