Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are scheduled to meet today, Tuesday, signaling a de-escalation of tensions between the two nuclear neighbors after years of confrontation. Wang, who arrived in India on Monday, will hold talks with Modi and other officials, including India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, focusing on the disputed Himalayan border. The agenda is expected to prioritize troop reductions at the border and the resumption of some trade activities. These efforts to rebuild relations come amid tensions between New Delhi and Washington following US President Donald Trump’s imposition of heavy tariffs on India, a long-time ally seen as a counterbalance to China’s influence in Asia. India is a member of the Quad security alliance with the US, Australia, and Japan.

The decades-long border dispute escalated in 2020 after a deadly clash in the Ladakh region, affecting trade, diplomacy, and air travel, with both sides deploying tens of thousands of security forces along the border. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday that Beijing is ready to consider Wang’s visit as an opportunity to work with India to properly address differences and promote sustainable, sound, and stable development of China-India relations. Mao added that Wang’s meeting with India’s National Security Advisor will continue in-depth communication to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.