In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Chennai for a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It would be five years before they met again.

This week, Modi and Xi held a bilateral meeting in Kazan, Russia. Their meeting followed an agreement on border patrolling in Eastern Ladakh. Relations had worsened after clashes in Galwan in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers.

India's Foreign Secretary announced that India and China reached an agreement to ease tensions along the border. This development followed months of discussions between diplomats and military officials from both countries.

India has been engaging with China while maintaining a distance from Pakistan. Since the 2019 Pulwama attack, there have been no official meetings between Indian and Pakistani leaders.

India and China have seen growth in trade. In 2015, trade was about $71 billion and grew to $118 billion in 2023-24. This makes China India's biggest trading partner.

Former diplomat KC Singh noted that China faces economic challenges, making India an important market for them. In contrast, India sees limited potential in trade with Pakistan due to its issues, including terrorism and political instability.

While India and China have border disputes, India's relationship with Pakistan is strained by ongoing terrorism.

Both leaders, Modi and Xi, have strong leadership roles, which may help improve ties. However, experts warn that India should remain cautious of China's intentions.