China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi meet on G20 sidelines amid simmering border tensions
Leaders discuss ‘a range of issues’ but it’s unclear whether military stand-off on contested part of the border was raised
President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg on Friday, at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries over the worst border dispute in years.
They “had a conversation on a range of issues”, according to a tweet by Indian foreign ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay.
The informal discussion took place when Xi and Modi attended a meeting of BRICS leaders from top emerging market economies. It is unclear whether the ongoing military stand-off between China and India – involving thousands of soldiers along a contested part of the border near Bhutan in the Himalayas – was raised. Both leaders were seen smiling in a photo of them shaking hands.
There has been speculation over whether the two would meet at the G20 summit as tensions mount over what China’s envoy to India has said was the most serious confrontation between the nations in over 30 years. No formal bilateral meeting is planned.
While tensions remain high, regional experts said it was unlikely fighting would break out on the border. The meeting could stop the situation from escalating, although it would not provide a diplomatic breakthrough.
Wang Dehua, director of the Institute for Southern and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies, said there would not be any immediate end to the stand-off. “This situation is deadlocked ... the ball is definitely in India’s court,” Wang said. “But it’s not so bad ... both sides need time to cool their heads.”