Will China’s hopes of a Modi visit hit a BRICS wall?

Wang Yi’s New Delhi visit raises speculation the Indian prime minister might attend developing nations’ summit in Beijing, along with Russia

But while the Asian powers share a common stance on the war in Ukraine their bitter border disputes make renormalisation of ties difficult, experts say

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Bumla Pass in the disputed Himalayan border region between India and China. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00am, 2 Apr 2022

India and China’s common ground over Russia’s war in Ukraine may be an opportunity to repair their damaged relations, but observers say renormalisation of ties will be difficult.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India last week raised speculation in Chinese media that his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar may soon reciprocate – potentially paving the way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the BRICS summit in Beijing later this year.

It was Wang’s first visit to India since relations between the two countries hit their lowest point in decades, with the deadly clash two years ago in the disputed Himalayan border region. More than 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops died in the encounter.

Despite their bitter border disputes, the two Asian powers have found some rare common ground in recent weeks, as both rejected Western calls to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

When the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last month to demand an immediate end to the invasion, Beijing and New Delhi abstained.

The two foreign ministers spoke for three hours in the Indian capital, focusing on de-escalating tensions over the disputed borders while also “exchanging opinions” on the Ukraine situation, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

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