Modi, Xi endorse border patrolling pact; decide to revive dialogue mechanisms

KAZAN/NEW DELHI: In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday endorsed an agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, also saw both leaders underline the need to revive stalled bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signaling efforts to restore normalcy in relations that were severely strained after the deadly military clash between the two nations in 2020.

The nearly 50-minute meeting between Modi and Xi was their first structured dialogue in almost five years, and it came at a critical juncture for bilateral ties.

In their discussion, Modi highlighted the importance of properly handling disputes and preventing them from disturbing the peace and stability along the border.

He said that "mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity" should remain the pillars of the relationship between the two Asian giants.

The talks led to a consensus on reviving the Special Representatives' dialogue mechanism on the boundary issue, which had been dormant for almost four years.

The two leaders also expressed a shared understanding that this mechanism could play a crucial role in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the contested frontier.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement following the meeting, noting that the two leaders agreed to progress relations from a "strategic and long-term perspective" while enhancing strategic communication to address shared developmental challenges.

The Modi-Xi meeting is being hailed as a significant step toward stabilizing bilateral ties, which have been on a downward trajectory since the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese troops.

The incident, one of the deadliest military confrontations between the two countries in decades, triggered a military standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, leading to a sharp deterioration in relations.