A Diplomatic Odyssey: Recalling PM Modi's Pivotal First China Visit and the Evolving Saga with Xi Jinping

In the intricate tapestry of international diplomacy, the relationship between India and China, and more specifically, between their respective leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, has always captured global attention. A significant chapter in this ongoing narrative began seven years ago with PM Modi's inaugural visit to China in May 2015, a trip that set the stage for a series of high-stakes encounters and an attempt at forging personal rapport.

The grandeur of Xi'an, the ancient capital of China and President Xi Jinping's hometown, served as the backdrop for this landmark visit.

It was a gesture steeped in symbolic significance, meticulously planned to reciprocate President Xi's 2014 visit to PM Modi's hometown, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Modi’s itinerary in Xi'an included a tour of the iconic Terracotta Warriors museum and a visit to the historic Da Xing Shan Temple, showcasing a blend of cultural exchange and diplomatic outreach.

This initial encounter was designed to foster a direct, personal connection between the two leaders, moving beyond traditional diplomatic protocols.

This early display of what was hoped to be strong personal chemistry was evident in the warmth of their initial interactions. The leaders, representing two of the world's most populous nations, engaged in discussions aimed at deepening bilateral ties across various sectors.

While the underlying complexities and historical tensions between India and China were always present, these initial meetings focused on building trust and exploring avenues for cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.

Following his visit to Xi'an, PM Modi's diplomatic journey continued to Beijing and Shanghai, where he engaged in extensive talks with President Xi and other high-ranking Chinese officials.

This marked the beginning of a remarkable frequency in their interactions. Over the next seven years, the two leaders met on numerous international platforms, reflecting the crucial nature of the India-China relationship.

Their subsequent meetings spanned the globe, from the BRICS summit in Ufa, Russia, to the climate summit in Paris, and the SCO summit in Tashkent.

India played host to President Xi at the BRICS summit in Goa, further cementing the pattern of their recurrent engagements. Each meeting, whether on the sidelines of multilateral forums or during dedicated bilateral visits, was an opportunity to discuss a vast array of issues, from regional security to global economic cooperation.

Key informal summits also became a hallmark of their dynamic.

In April 2018, the leaders held an unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, China, designed to foster a 'heart-to-heart' dialogue away from the rigidities of formal diplomatic settings. This was followed by another informal summit in Mamallapuram, India, in October 2019. These unique interactions aimed to provide a strategic direction to the bilateral relationship, allowing for candid exchanges on contentious issues and future cooperation.

Through these frequent meetings, from their initial reciprocal hometown visits to the more recent informal summits, PM Modi and President Xi Jinping navigated a complex diplomatic landscape.

While challenges and occasional frictions, such as border standoffs, undeniably tested the relationship, the consistent high-level engagement underscored the imperative for dialogue between these two Asian giants. PM Modi's first visit to China in 2015 thus remains a significant point of reference, marking the earnest beginning of a diplomatic relationship characterized by both aspiration and intricacy, defining a crucial chapter in 21st-century geopolitics.