Modi and Xi meet at BRICS summit, stressing dialogue to prevent escalation

During the BRICS summit held in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a brief meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. In subsequent press releases, both sides reiterated that bilateral relations should be viewed from a strategic and long-term perspective, and that any differences should not escalate into conflict. This meeting stood out amidst the multilateral diplomatic atmosphere of the BRICS summit, as frictions between India and China in areas such as border security, trade, and geopolitics have occasionally intensified in recent years. Modi's move is seen as sending a message to the international community that, even against a backdrop of coexistence between competition and contradiction, both sides remain willing to maintain channels of dialogue to avoid falling into military confrontation due to miscalculation or escalation.

The roots of tension in India-China relations can be traced back to the border war of 1962. Although there have been multiple high-level visits and agreements since then, disputes remain along the Line of Actual Control in the Himalayas. In recent years, with China's expanding economic influence in South Asia and India's strengthening strategic deployment in the Indian Ocean, frictions regarding border patrols, infrastructure, and military deployments have occurred frequently between the two countries. The standoffs in the Ladakh region in 2020 and 2021 once led to casualties on both sides, highlighting the risk of escalating differences. Modi's reiteration during this summit of viewing things "from a strategic and long-term perspective" echoes the lessons learned from past conflicts, intending to remind both sides to resolve differences through diplomatic means before disputes escalate.

As an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS has in recent years dedicated itself to exerting greater influence in global governance, financial reform, and the multilateral trading system. As founding members of BRICS, the interaction between India and China within this framework concerns not only the trajectory of their bilateral relations but also the cohesion of the entire BRICS bloc. If the disputes between India and China continue to heat up, it could weaken the coordination capacity of BRICS on the international stage, thereby affecting the strength of its challenge to the current international order dominated by the United States and Europe. Therefore, the interaction between Modi and Xi during the summit has also been interpreted by outside observers as a guarantee of internal stability within BRICS.

From an economic perspective, India-China trade volume has continued to grow over the past decade, and the potential for cooperation between the two sides in energy, manufacturing, and technology is immense. India is actively promoting its "Make in India" and digitalization policies, urgently needing stable external markets and supply chains; China, meanwhile, hopes to secure more partners in its "Belt and Road" and global supply chain layouts. If the two sides restrict economic and trade exchanges due to political differences, it would not only harm enterprises in both countries but could also spill over into the investment and trade expectations of other BRICS member states. Modi's emphasis that differences should not become disputes also paves the way for future economic complementarity and common development between the two nations.

On the diplomatic front, India and China simultaneously face strategic pressures from the United States and other Western countries. In recent years, the U.S. has strengthened its strategic partnership with India and promoted the concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" in the Indo-Pacific region, while also stepping up its policies toward China amidst competition with Beijing. Modi's meeting with Xi at the BRICS summit demonstrates that India still retains space for direct dialogue with China within its diversified diplomatic layout, avoiding being forced to take sides in the competition between major powers. This move helps India maintain its strategic autonomy and provides a buffer for regional peace and stability.

In summary, the meeting between Modi and Xi at the BRICS summit was not merely a courtesy greeting, but a concrete manifestation of both sides attempting to curb differences through dialogue and avoid conflict in the current complex international environment. This move has a positive demonstration effect on India-China bilateral relations, the internal cohesion of the BRICS bloc, and the broader Asia-Pacific security architecture. If both sides can continue to resolve disputes through a pragmatic cooperation framework in the future, it will contribute to regional economic integration and the diversified development of global governance.