Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met China's top diplomat and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the countries' relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed powers.

India and China have agreed to set up an “expert group” to explore an “early harvest” approach to boundary delimitation in disputed sectors, signalling a potential shift in New Delhi’s negotiating stance.

From reopening traditional Himalayan trade routes to easing travel and resuming direct flights, New Delhi and Beijing have unveiled a package of economic and people-to-people measures aimed at cautiously resetting their strained ties.

Amid US President Donald Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, Asian giants — India and China — are cautiously strengthening ties by staging a series of high-level bilateral visits.

China — often characterized by White House officials as the arch-rival of the U.S. in trade — has been among the countries most negatively affected by Trump’s mercurial barrage of tariffs. India is currently suffering severe penalties imposed by the Trump administration due to its continued purchasing of oil from Russia.

Wang Yi handed over a personal message and invitation from President Xi Jinping to the PM, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being held in Tianjin on August 31 to September 1. Modi acce

India and China are attempting a cautious reset in their strained relationship, but experts warn the road ahead will be marked by hard bargaining and unresolved tensions. Former diplomats and strategic affairs specialists told CNBC-TV18 that while trade flows and export relaxations offer short-term gains,

Their relationship is defined by a bloody border dispute, a vast power imbalance and a fierce contest for influence across Asia. Yet, President Donald Trump’s latest trade war may be achieving the unthinkable: pushing India and China into a wary but tactical embrace.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will begin his two-day visit to India on Monday, where he will hold a crucial bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.