Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face and had a "candid" talk on the border issue, reports have emerged. The meeting took place last Thursday in compliance with Prime Minister Modi's request on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa.
In 2020, relations between the two countries soured after a clash in the Himalayan border killed 20 Indian soldiers and almost as many Chinese soldiers (which China has not officially announced).Tens of thousands of soldiers have been mobilized on both sides of the border. Despite 19 rounds of talks between the top military officers of the two countries, the issue was not resolved.In this context, a rare meeting has taken place between the leaders of the two countries in South Africa.
Informing about the meeting, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that Prime Minister Modi emphasized that "respecting the Line of Control is necessary for smooth relations between India and China". Similarly, President Xi Jinping emphasized that if the relationship between China and India improves, both countries and people will benefit, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi have been attending various diplomatic meetings since the confrontation began. But this is the first time the two have met face-to-face since a brief meeting at the G20 summit in Bali last November. A few years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi held talks in Mamallapuram when they came to India. There was hope that the relationship between the two countries would strengthen. But subsequent incidents increased the conflict between the two countries.
Now the leaders of both the countries are talking from their hearts. It is a well-known fact that India is not a country that aspires to any country's land. At the same time, India is also adamant that it will not give away even a foot of land it owns. Therefore, China should dig deep and bury its desire to grab India's land on the border and proceed with the negotiations.
Only then will there be a smooth solution to the India & China border issue. Only if this happens will the words of the leaders of the two countries have a meaning. It is the united will of the people of India that this should happen.
Will it happen is the big question mark?