
India's PM to meet China's top diplomat as ties improve
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with Modi and other leaders on Tuesday about the disputed border in the Himalayan mountains.
Reducing the number of troops on the border and possibly resuming trade in the contested region are expected to be on the agenda.
The rebuilding of ties coincides with friction between New Delhi and Washington after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India, a longtime ally seen as a counterbalance against China's influence in Asia.
India is part of the Quad security alliance with the US, along with Australia and Japan.
India and China's decades-old border dispute worsened in 2020 after a deadly clash between their troops in the Ladakh region.
The chill in relations affected trade, diplomacy and air travel as both sides deployed tens of thousands of security forces in border areas.
Some progress has been made since then.
In 2024, India and China agreed to a pact on border patrols and withdrew additional forces along some border areas.
Both countries continue to fortify their border by building roads and rail networks.
In recent months, the countries have increased official visits and discussed easing some trade restrictions, movement of citizens and visas for businesspeople.
In June, Beijing allowed pilgrims from India to visit holy sites in Tibet.
Both sides are working to restore direct flights.
Last week, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said India and China were in discussions to restart trade through three points along their 3500km border.
Before his meeting with Modi, Wang met India's national security adviser, Ajit Doval, and discussed the way forward to bolster the relationship.
"The setbacks we experienced in the past few years were not in the interest of the people of our two countries. We are heartened to see the stability that is now restored in the borders," Wang said.
The thaw between Beijing and New Delhi began last October when Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at a summit of emerging economies in Russia.
It was the first time the leaders had spoken in person since 2019.
Modi is set to meet Xi when he travels to China in late August - his first visit in seven years - to attend the summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, a regional grouping formed by China, Russia and others to counter US influence in Asia.
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