The foreign ministers of India and China convened in New Delhi on Monday, initiating a renewed diplomatic push to alleviate tensions that have strained relations between the nuclear-armed Asian rivals since a five-year border standoff. India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, welcomed his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for discussions aimed at stabilizing a relationship that deteriorated sharply after security forces clashed along their disputed Himalayan border in 2020. This violent encounter, the worst in decades, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, leading to a freezing of high-level political engagements.

Since the 2020 incident, both nations have maintained tens of thousands of security forces in the contested border areas. The chill in relations profoundly affected various sectors, including trade, diplomacy, and air travel. However, some progress has been made, with India and China agreeing last year to a border patrol pact and withdrawing additional forces from certain border regions. During Monday’s opening remarks, Jaishankar emphasized the need for de-escalation 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 acknowledged the prevailing peace and tranquility along the borders and confirmed that China has permitted Indian pilgrims to visit significant sites in the Tibet autonomous region.

The diplomatic thaw continues with further high-level engagements planned. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Tuesday. Discussions are expected to focus on the disputed border, with a reduction in troop numbers likely on the agenda. Additionally, both sides are working towards restoring direct flights and have increased official visits to discuss easing trade restrictions, facilitating movement of citizens, and issuing visas for businesspeople. India and China are reportedly in discussions to restart trade through three points along their extensive 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) border. Beijing also recently allowed pilgrims from India to visit holy sites in Tibet.

This renewed engagement coincides with a complex geopolitical landscape influencing New Delhi’s foreign policy. Relations between India and Washington have frayed following U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods, which includes a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian crude oil, effective August 27. India has shown no signs of capitulation, instead deepening economic cooperation with Russia through more agreements. Furthermore, Trump’s revitalized engagement with Pakistan, India’s traditional rival – exemplified by hosting Pakistan’s army chief and announcing an energy deal – has reportedly encouraged India’s overtures towards China. It is noted that Pakistan utilized Chinese-made military jets and missiles during a clash with India in May. Despite these dynamics, India remains a key member of the Quad security alliance alongside the U.S., Australia, and Japan, positioning itself as a counterbalance to China’s regional influence.

Looking ahead, Prime Minister Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping when he travels to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. This will mark Modi’s first visit to China in seven years and follows a previous meeting between the two leaders at an emerging economies summit in Russia last October, their first in-person discussion since 2019. Earlier this year, Xi Jinping advocated for India and China’s relations to embody a “dragon-elephant tango,” symbolizing a cooperative dance between their emblematic animals. Manoj Joshi, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, noted that relations are still at an “uneasy level of normalization,” emphasizing that settling the boundary issue requires “political compromise at the highest political level” as both countries are “still talking past each other when it comes to the border dispute.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, affirmed Beijing’s willingness to use Wang’s visit as an opportunity to “properly handle differences and promote the sustained, sound and stable development of China-India relations,” including safeguarding peace and tranquility in border areas.