Exclusive: On the table for Xi-Modi meet, a strategic economic dialogue - indianexpress.com

**Modi‑Xi to Hold Strategic Economic Dialogue at BRICS Summit**

New Delhi and Beijing are set to stage a high‑profile encounter at the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for a “strategic economic dialogue” on the sidelines of the multilateral gathering. Officials from both capitals confirmed that the talks will go beyond the usual diplomatic pleasantries, focusing on deepening trade, investment and technology cooperation while also addressing lingering disputes along the contested Himalayan frontier. The agenda, first disclosed in an exclusive interview with *The Indian Express*, includes discussions on expanding the bilateral trade ceiling, reviving the stalled India‑China Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and exploring joint ventures in renewable energy, semiconductor manufacturing and logistics corridors that could link the two economies more tightly.

The meeting arrives at a moment when both sides are keen to temper the diplomatic chill that followed a series of border skirmishes in the Galwan valley and the subsequent suspension of high‑level contacts in 2021. While the *Times of India* reports that “trade and border are on the agenda,” Reuters notes that China hopes the visit will “help diplomatic thaw,” but acknowledges that lingering suspicion over security concerns and market access remains a barrier. In the economic sphere, China currently enjoys a $85 billion trade surplus with India, a gap New Delhi is eager to narrow through greater market access for Indian pharmaceuticals, agricultural products and services. Conversely, Beijing is looking to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals and tap India’s growing consumer market for its high‑tech goods.

Beyond bilateral issues, the dialogue is also a test of influence within the “Club of Emerging Powers,” a phrase coined by *The New York Times* to describe the shifting balance between China and India in the global order. Both leaders will likely gauge the impact of the United States’ renewed Indo‑Pacific strategy and assess how coordinated economic engagement could bolster their strategic autonomy. Analysts cited by CNBC predict that any breakthrough—such as a “road‑map for a joint green‑energy fund” or a framework for easing customs procedures—could signal a pragmatic shift from rivalry to partnership, at least in the economic domain, even as geopolitical tensions linger. The outcome of the strategic economic dialogue will therefore be watched closely by investors, policymakers and regional neighbors alike.