Modi, Xi To Hold First Bilateral Meeting Since Galwan Clash On The Sidelines Of BRICS Summit In Russia's Kazan Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping — their first since the 2020 Galwan clash — on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan today (23 October).

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had confirmed on Tuesday that a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping will take place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit on Wednesday, The Tribune reported.

This meeting follows the recent agreement between India and China to resolve patrolling issues along the 3,500-km Line of Actual Control to end the prolonged border standoff that started after the Galwan clash in 2020.

Earlier on Tuesday, China confirmed that the agreement that has been reached between New Delhi and Beijing on the patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas.

"Over the past few weeks, China and India have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border. Now, the two sides have reached a resolution on the relevant matters which China speaks highly of. Going forward, China will work with India to implement these resolutions," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters during a daily media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Misri had issued a somewhat similar statement on Monday regarding the longstanding conflict.

"I can share with you that over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other in a variety of forums. And as a result of these discussions, agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020. And we will be taking the next steps on this," Misri had told reporters in New Delhi.

Since the Galwan clash PM Modi and President Xi have only had one formal meeting, which took place during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023.

They also had a brief informal exchange at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

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