After years of silence, suspicion, and sharp stand-offs, the stage is set for a potential turning point. On Sunday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. It’s a long-awaited conversation between two of Asia’s most powerful leaders — and one that comes after years of deadly conflict and diplomatic tension.
Modi’s visit marks his first trip to China in seven years. He’s there for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, a regional security platform that also includes Russia and Iran. But it’s the bilateral meeting with Xi that holds the world’s attention.
This visit is especially significant. It’s Modi’s first since the tragic June 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley, where 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops lost their lives. That brutal hand-to-hand combat was a stark reminder of the fragile peace along their 3,800 km-long disputed Himalayan border — a legacy of disagreements stretching back to the 1950s.
What followed was a chilling of ties: economic restrictions, banned Chinese apps, and halted flights. But slowly, over the past few years, something has shifted.
Here’s a timeline of how India and China have inched closer to dialogue and, perhaps, reconciliation:
June 2020
Deadly Galwan Valley clash. New Delhi imposes investment restrictions on China and bans dozens of Chinese mobile apps.
December 2020
Minor skirmishes erupt in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by China as part of southern Tibet.
August 2023
Modi and Xi meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg and agree to speed up disengagement.
September 2024
India’s Foreign Minister Jaishankar announces that 75% of disengagement issues are resolved. Talks resume on restarting direct flights.
October 2024
First formal Modi-Xi meeting in five years takes place in Russia. A deal is struck to manage patrols along the disputed border.
December 2024
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visits China for high-level border talks with Wang Yi.
January 2025
Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meet in China. Talks focus on resuming air links and addressing trade frictions.
April 2025
A Chinese spokesperson calls for India-China unity in facing Trump-era U.S. tariffs.
July 2025
Jaishankar visits China and urges the removal of troops from friction points. India begins reviewing rules restricting Chinese investments.
August 2025
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang, in New Delhi, urges both sides to see each other as partners, not adversaries. Later, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong publicly declares China’s opposition to U.S. tariffs on India and voices strong support for New Delhi.
From Conflict to Communication
This slow thaw is not just about diplomacy — it’s about rethinking how two rising powers coexist in a shared region, balancing competition with cooperation. The upcoming Modi-Xi meeting may not erase the scars of Galwan, but it symbolizes a critical step toward a new chapter, where dialogue replaces deadlock.
