In a significant diplomatic move, the foreign ministers of India and China convened in New Delhi on Monday, initiating a renewed effort to alleviate the protracted tensions stemming from a five-year border standoff that has severely impacted bilateral relations. India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, welcomed his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for discussions explicitly aimed at stabilizing ties which had drastically deteriorated following a deadly clash in 2020 along the disputed Himalayan border.

The 2020 confrontation marked the worst violence in decades between the two nuclear-armed Asian rivals, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers. This incident led to a freezing of high-level political engagements and prompted both nations to deploy tens of thousands of security forces to the contested border areas. The chill in relations subsequently affected various domains, including trade, diplomacy, and air travel.

Despite the ongoing challenges, some progress has been made towards de-escalation. Last year, India and China reached an agreement on border patrols and subsequently withdrew additional forces from certain border regions. During Monday's talks, Jaishankar emphasized the necessity of de-escalating border tensions to foster positive momentum in bilateral ties, stating, “Having seen a difficult period in our relationship, our two nations now seek to move ahead. This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides.” Wang Yi, in turn, acknowledged the restoration of peace and tranquility along the borders and confirmed that China has permitted Indian pilgrims to visit key religious sites within the Tibet autonomous region.

The agenda for Wang Yi’s visit also included crucial meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Tuesday. Discussions during these meetings were expected to focus on further reducing the number of troops stationed along the border and possibly resuming trade through three specific points along their 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) border. Both countries have also been actively working towards restoring direct flights and increasing official visits, alongside discussing the easing of trade restrictions, movement of citizens, and visas for businesspeople, even while continuing to fortify their respective border infrastructures with new roads and rail networks.

Wang Yi expressed optimism, noting, “The setbacks we experienced in the past few years were not in the interest of the people of our two countries. We are heartened to see the stability that is now restored in the borders.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, echoed this sentiment, stating Beijing's willingness to leverage Wang's visit to