Following a conversation between their leaders, India and China have agreed to de-escalate tensions along their disputed border.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit in South Africa.

According to Beijing, Mr Modi requested the meeting.

More than three years have passed since India and China’s relations deteriorated.

Located in the Himalayan region, the two world powers share an ill-defined 3,440km (2,100 mile)-long border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

On the sidelines of the Brics summit in Johannesburg, Mr Xi and Mr Modi met. South Africa is often seen as a counterweight to the Western-led world by the Brics countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, both sides have agreed to step up efforts for the disengagement of troops along the LAC.

For the normalisation of the India-China relationship, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and observing and respecting the LAC.

As a result, the two leaders directed their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and deescalation,” he added.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the two leaders exchanged candid views on China-India relations and other issues of common interest.

According to the statement, President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries, as well as the peace, stability, and development of the region and the world.

It also added: “The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border region.”

Mr Xi and Mr Modi last spoke on the sidelines of the G20 summit in 2022.

Mr Xi is expected to arrive in India for the G20 summit hosted by Delhi on 9 and 10 September.