Opinion | In Modi’s second term, China and India can overcome their Himalayan differences to benefit Asia

Each year, as winter gives way to spring, glacial melt from the Himalayas joins mighty river systems, such as the Ganges, Indus, Yellow and Yangstze rivers, that bring water, nutrients and energy to over a billion people downstream in China, India and other Asian countries. However, scientists now warn that climate change is disrupting the Himalayan water cycle, posing flood and drought risks to communities across South and East Asia.

Historically, the Himalayas have been a conduit for the flow of people, trade and ideas between China and India, but also a barrier that kept them apart. Today, Himalayan geography reflects obstacles that still lie between these two nations, but also their deep ties and shared destiny.