Modi-Xi bilateral today, first in 5 years, after China confirms LAC agreement

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the media in Kazan, said, “I can confirm that there will be a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.”

On the patrolling arrangement, Misri said, “What it will entail is that in the pending areas under discussion, patrolling, and indeed grazing activities, wherever applicable, will revert to the situation as… in 2020… As far as the disengagement agreements reached previously are concerned, those agreements were not reopened in these discussions. The agreement that was reached yesterday, very early yesterday morning, was focused on issues that had remained outstanding in the last couple of years.”

Earlier in the day, China confirmed that “the two sides have reached a solution on the relevant matters, which China views positively”. It did not, however, mention the patrolling arrangement.

At a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, “Over a recent period of time, China and India have kept close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border.” Lin said the two sides have reached a solution on the “relevant matters”. He said China will work with India to implement it but declined to provide details.

The state-run Global Times said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson “confirmed progress”.

“Currently, the two sides have reached a solution on the relevant matters, which China views positively. In the next phase, China will work with India to effectively implement the solution plan,” it quoted Lin as telling the media briefing.