India's shift marks the end of a hopeful period, during which some expected that reducing China's hold over the world economy could be accomplished unilaterally, through wholesale cuts to trade or investment.

India's shift marks the end of a hopeful period, during which some expected that reducing China's hold over the world economy could be accomplished unilaterally, through wholesale cuts to trade or investment.

- Mihir Sharma

encouragement, but nevertheless Mr Modi persists. Even in Tianjin, the official readouts of the leaders' meeting had noticeable differences. Beijing stressed the countries should "work together for a multipolar world". New Delhi noted it asked for a multipolar world and a multipolar Asia.

The Chinese leader is happy the two countries are talking again, but not happy enough to give an inch on anything substantive. Those soldiers in the Himalayas may have stepped back from each other a bit, but they haven't returned entirely to their pre-confrontation lines.