India-China Ties See Signs of Thaw Amid Uneasy Times

India-China ties appear to be mending amid recent signs of the easing of tensions.

- SATARUPA BHATTACHARJYA

The US trade war in which the two Asian giants are caught is also a factor.

The 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations was marked on April 1 by an exchange of greetings between President Droupadi Murmu and Chinese President Xi Jinping. India was among the earliest countries to recognize the People's Republic of China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, in October. It was the two leaders' first major meeting since the fatal confrontation in the Galwan River valley five years ago. At least 24 Indian and Chinese soldiers were killed.

Multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks have since been held.

On an American podcast in March, Modi said India and China were working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. In his message to Murmu, Xi said the development of China-India relations was the right choice.

On Tuesday, the Chinese embassy hosted a commemorative event, with cake-cutting and speeches by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong in New Delhi.