India and China have made significant progress in reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This breakthrough comes just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the 16th BRICS Summit. The news has sparked speculation about a possible meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
India and China Reach Agreement on LAC Patrolling
India and China have agreed on new patrolling measures along the LAC, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a press conference. Patrolling the delicate Depsang and Demchok regions in eastern Ladakh is the main objective of the agreement. In terms of settling the tensions that started in 2020, this is a significant step.
The talks were described as “elaborate” and covered various levels of discussion. India has been pushing for a return to the pre-2020 status quo along the LAC. While much remains to be done, this agreement is a positive step toward reducing friction between the two countries.
Potential Modi-Xi Jinping Meeting at BRICS Summit
The timing of the agreement has raised hopes for a meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The summit will take place on October 22-23. When asked about the possibility of a meeting, Foreign Secretary Misri said that discussions are ongoing. However, no final decision has been made yet.
Regular diplomatic and military-level discussions have been held between India and China in an effort to reduce tensions. Even with the advancements, the LAC situation is still a major worry, and a face-to-face meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping may present a chance for further progress.
Long-Standing Tensions Since 2020
An unspecified number of Chinese troops and 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which intensified the military standoff between India and China. Relationships between the two countries were severely damaged by this incident, which was the worst military confrontation in decades. Since then, despite ongoing tensions, both nations have participated in many rounds of dialogues aiming at re-establishing peace along the LAC.
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