(MENAFN) India and China seem to be taking tentative steps to mend their strained ties after years of hostility, though deep-rooted tensions and mistrust continue to pose obstacles.

A possible shift in relations was signaled by the recent visits of two high-ranking Indian officials to China late last month. Their presence marked a notable development in the slow-moving diplomatic thaw.

In June, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh traveled separately to China to attend meetings under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) framework. The SCO is a security-focused regional bloc made up of ten countries, including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Singh’s trip was particularly significant, being the first visit by a senior Indian figure to China in five years.

Central to the long-standing strain is a 3,440-kilometer (2,100-mile) undefined border. The rugged terrain—marked by shifting rivers, frozen lakes, and mountainous regions—frequently leads to confusion over the boundary, often resulting in troops from both nations confronting each other, which sometimes escalates into conflict.

A major turning point in the modern era of their disputes occurred in June 2020, when Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in the Galwan Valley region of Ladakh. The encounter, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers, was the deadliest in decades. Tensions since then have led to additional standoffs in various areas along the disputed frontier.

Despite this, shifting geopolitical dynamics and developments on the ground appear to be pushing both governments toward limited cooperation. In a sign of that, they reached a mutual understanding late last year on several key points of friction in the Ladakh region.

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