PM Modi Calls For 'Peace And Tranquility' At China Border In 1st Bilateral Meet With Xi Jinping In Last 5 Years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of 16th BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan, marking an important step in easing tensions between the two countries. During the meet, PM Modi 'welcomed' the recent agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in the India-China border areas," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

PM Modi underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility. The meeting comes after the recent agreement to resolve issues that arose in 2020 in the India-China border areas. This was the first structured meeting between leaders of the two countries in the last 5 years. 

Chinese President Xi called for strengthening communication with India during the meeting with PM Modi that lasted 50 minutes.

"Both leaders agreed that the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary issue will meet soon to maintain peace in the border areas and explore a mutually acceptable solution to the ongoing boundary question," the MEA statement read. 

India's Ministry of External Affairs said that dialogue mechanisms involving Foreign Ministers and other officials will also be activated to stabilize and rebuild the strained relationship between the two nations. 

The meeting could ease tensions between the two Asian giants.The meeting took place two days after India and China reached an agreement on military patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a significant step towards ending the more than four-year standoff.

Modi and Xi exchanged pleasantries and had a brief conversation at an Indonesian President-hosted dinner for G20 leaders in November 2022. In August of last year, the Indian prime minister and the Chinese president had a brief and informal conversation in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit.

In October 2019, the two leaders had their most recent structured meeting at their second informal summit in Mamallapuram. The eastern Ladakh border row erupted in May 2020.