Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India after seven years has been described as 'very important optics' by former envoy to China Gautam Bambawale, who noted the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BRICS summit as a step toward mending bilateral ties. The engagement, which took place on the sidelines of the summit, focused on peace and stability in border regions, with PM Modi stressing the importance of 'peace and tranquillity' for both nations' relations.

Bambawale told NDTV Managing Editor Shiv Aroor that the meeting laid the groundwork for future official talks, with guidance from the two leaders expected to shape the India-China relationship in the coming weeks and months. However, he cautioned that the relationship remains in a net negative compared to its state in 2019, when tensions over Chinese military moves in eastern Ladakh and Galwan disrupted momentum.

The former ambassador to China described the visit as a 'couple of steps forward' but emphasized that significant ground remains to be covered. 'We are not yet at the level where the India-China relationship was as far back as 2019,' he said, noting that the relationship took 10 steps back due to Galwan but has since made three steps forward since 2024. He acknowledged that both China and the United States are seeking to influence India's strategic direction, with Xi's visit potentially part of broader efforts to engage New Delhi.

Bambawale suggested that India's approach is to maintain a balanced relationship with both major powers while focusing on domestic development. 'We will not take sides, but we will continue to work with both countries, both the major powers, while at the same time keeping our heads down in India domestically and building up our own strengths, economic, military, and technological,' he said.

The meeting is seen as a signal of improving diplomatic relations, though the long-term impact remains uncertain. Bambawale stressed the need for patience and continued dialogue, noting that the relationship is being 'repaired' but will take time to regain its former momentum. The visit underscores the strategic importance of India-China relations in the context of global geopolitics, with both nations navigating complex dynamics amid regional and international pressures.

What remains unknown is the extent of the guidance provided by the two leaders in private discussions and the specific steps that may follow from this engagement. The full implications of the meeting for India-China relations will likely become clearer as further official talks and developments unfold.