A discreet letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March has emerged as a turning point in India-China relations, according to a Bloomberg report. The note, later passed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaled Beijing’s cautious willingness to improve ties after years of strained relations. An Indian official described the communication as an effort to “test the waters on improving ties,” with the message carefully calibrated to avoid overcommitment.
The outreach coincided with rising trade friction between Washington and both Beijing and New Delhi, putting pressure on Asian powers to explore common ground. By June, backchannel diplomacy had gained momentum, leading to an agreement on broader engagement and setting the stage for a diplomatic thaw.
On Thursday, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, President Xi and President Murmu exchanged congratulatory messages. Xi noted that India and China are “ancient civilizations, major developing nations, and key members of the Global South,” underscoring their shared global responsibilities.
The reset now takes on added weight as Prime Minister Modi prepares for his first visit to China in seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on August 31. The visit comes against the backdrop of heightened US tariff threats against both India and China over their Russian oil imports. Modi’s last trip to China was in June 2018, while Xi’s last India visit was in October 2019. Relations soured soon after, following the deadly clashes in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in June 2020, which froze high-level dialogue.
Since then, cautious steps have been taken toward normalisation. In October 2024, Modi and Xi met in Kazan, Russia, where they agreed to revive dialogue frameworks such as the Special Representatives’ talks on the boundary dispute. Other confidence-building measures have included the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and India reopening tourist visa services for Chinese travelers.
High-level exchanges have also resumed, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval all making visits to China in recent months.
The revival of dialogue following Xi’s secret letter suggests that both nations are seeking to manage their rivalry while navigating global trade pressures, signaling a cautious but significant reset in Asia’s most critical bilateral relationship.
