India, Aug. 20 -- The latest engagement between top Indian and Chinese leaders has taken on added significance because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's impending visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit against the backdrop of considerable strain in India-US relations. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's meetings with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and external affairs minister S Jaishankar in Delhi have been marked by an acknowledgement on both sides of the incremental progress in normalising relations after a difficult period, when ties hit an all-time low over the standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as well as the need for a more constructive approach to drive things forward, especially de-escalation on the border and trade-related issues. When Wang called on him, the Prime Minister emphasised India's commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, and underlined that "stable, predictable, and constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional and global peace and prosperity". There are already signs that China is addressing India's concerns related to import restrictions on rare earth minerals and fertilisers, which have had far-reaching implications for India's manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The two sides also appear set to resume direct flights and border trade once certain procedural issues and technicalities are sorted out. Compared to the position the two countries were in at this time last year, there has been considerable progress, which bodes well for the normalisation of the overall relationship. There can be little doubt that the moves by India and China to normalise their relations after the bruising face-off on the LAC were influenced by the return of Donald Trump as the US President, and have acquired urgency because of the uncertainty brought on by the erratic decision-making of the American leader, especially in the realm of trade. However, it also serves China's interests to reduce tensions with India so that it can focus on larger issues, especially given the country's sluggish economy. In this context, Modi's upcoming visit to China will be crucial as it will set up a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, only the second since the end of the standoff on the border. Both sides will be looking to this meeting to set the tone and tenor of relations in the coming months, including more confidence-building measures and bilateral engagements to address the border and other issues. In all this, India will do well to maintain its pragmatic approach without losing sight of sensitive issues such as Beijing's consistent backing for Pakistan, the Dalai Lama's succession, and China's efforts to project itself as the dominant power in the Indo-Pacific....