Strengthening India-China relationship: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to visit Beijing on January 26

Misri will visit China from January 26 to January 27 confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The resumption of this bilateral mechanism flows from the agreement at the leadership level to discuss the next steps for India-China relations, including in the political, economic, and people-to-people domains," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a little over one month period, this is the second most high-profile Indian official visiting China.

Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval visited China last month.

During his visit, he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi under the framework of the special representatives' dialogue on the boundary dispute.

Modi-Xi meeting

Misri is another top Indian official who has been visiting Beijing since Indian PM Narendra Modi and  President Xi Jinping met in Russia in October on the sidelines of BRICS to normalise bilateral ties.

Galwan Clash

The Galwan skirmish erupted from a dispute over a temporary bridge built by the Chinese in the Galwan River valley in Ladakh.

On June 15, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a six-hour clash in the rugged terrain of Ladakh, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with makeshift weapons such as stones, batons, and iron rods.

The face-off occurred in near-complete darkness and freezing temperatures, leading to fatalities as soldiers fell or were pushed from ridges.

Twenty Indian soldiers were martyred in the clash, while China officially acknowledged four casualties, although reports indicate higher Chinese losses, as soldiers drowned in the choppy waters of the Galwan River.