Xi Jinping’s India visit expected to support India-China diplomatic thaw
NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to India for the BRICS Summit is expected to provide an opportunity for further engagement between New Delhi and Beijing as the two countries work to stabilise bilateral relations.
Xi is scheduled to visit New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, his first visit to India in seven years. The visit comes after a period of renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi are expected to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit. Their meeting would provide an opportunity to review progress in India-China relations and discuss areas of mutual interest.
The relationship between the two countries has gradually seen efforts towards stabilisation following the military tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
India and China have also taken steps in recent months to restore some normal channels of engagement, including movement related to business and travel.
However, several challenges remain. Businesses in both countries continue to face issues linked to investment regulations, visas, technology and trade.
India has been cautious about Chinese investments in sensitive sectors because of national security considerations, while Chinese companies have also faced scrutiny in the Indian market.
The upcoming BRICS meeting provides a wider multilateral platform for both countries to engage alongside other major emerging economies.
The summit is expected to focus on cooperation in areas including trade, development, technology and multilateral affairs.
A meeting between Modi and Xi could also help maintain momentum in the recent improvement in bilateral ties and provide an opportunity to address practical issues affecting economic and people-to-people relations.
While major differences between the two countries remain, continued high-level communication is expected to play an important role in managing them and maintaining stability along the border and in the wider bilateral relationship.
