Why India and China are talking again

Trade, energy, Russia, and regional stability are pushing New Delhi and Beijing to manage tensions instead of feeding them Ties between India and China have evolved significantly since the 2024 Kazan BRICS Summit, which marked their first structured, formal bilateral meeting since the tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes which saw the first fatalities between the two sides in almost 45 years.

In a sign of the improvement in ties, direct flights have once again resumed between the two countries and a few of the old trade routes have reopened.

In addition, Indian citizens are once again embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage.

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Kailash is a sacred mountain for the Hindus, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Though the boundary question has been thorny, there has been progress in other areas.

In addition, there have been a string of developments on the global front, which make it imperative for India and China to join hands.

Both countries are trying to maximize their influence on the international stage and hence are reaching out to multiple partners.

Mending frayed ties The 25th round of Special Representative Talks was held recently during the visit of the Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to China.

A day after the talks, both countries released an identical eight-point Joint Statement.

The most important takeaway from this Joint Statement is the “commitment to advance negotiations on a framework for the settlement of the boundary question in accordance with the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question signed in 2005.” Read more Putin and fellow BRICS leaders set stage for New Delhi summit Another major takeaway is the decision to hold the next meeting of the India-China Expert-Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers later this month and maintain communication on issues including hydrological data sharing.

This is an important issue for India, as China is reportedly building a massive dam across the Brahmaputra River which flows through northeastern India (the Brahmaputra is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo on the Tibetan side).

The recent case of the deadly flash floods in Nepal on the border with Tibet makes the sharing of hydrological data all the more relevant.

Both countries are energy importers and the recent tensions in the Middle East have dramatically reduced the options available to them.