Tensions between New Delhi and Beijing have remained in the border region due to the military standoff in the eastern Ladakh region since May 2020.
Although the two militaries have achieved the disengagement of troops and de-escalation of the overall military situation at several friction points, over 60,000 troops from each side are still involved in a standoff at two locations - Demchok and Depsang.
But what do growing Sino-Russian ties mean for India?
A former Indian diplomat has rejected an apprehension that the expanding strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow will affect ties between India and Russia in any way.
"The theory that the Russia-China no-limit partnership will adversely impact India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership is again not founded on sound arguments since this relationship stands on its own strategic matrix." Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Ambassador, told Sputnik.
Trigunayat said that Beijing would complement Moscow's efforts to "leverage" the latter's ties with the US and other Western powers, amid Washington-led efforts to contain China's expanding global footprint.
Speaking about the India-Russia-China dynamic, the former Indian diplomat reckoned that New Delhi was as important to Moscow as Beijing in the scheme of things.
"I believe the argument that Russia will become a junior partner of China post its weakening post Russia-Ukraine [conflict] may be far-fetched given Russia's global aspirations and track record," he stated.
Moscow has traditionally been its foremost defense supplier and one of its closest strategic partners.
Since the start of the special military operation last February, Moscow has also emerged as a leading crude supplier to New Delhi, overtaking traditional energy suppliers in the Middle East.
Russia-India Strategic Alignment Unaffected: Moscow
Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Moscow this week where he held wide-ranging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Amid concerns in sections of the Indian media, Russia's Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said it was "wishful thinking" on the part of some Indian experts to even entertain such a line of thought.
"The impression, as though various reputable Indian experts almost dream of Russia-China ties harming Russia-India strategic alignment. Wishful thinking, case in point!" Alipov tweeted on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the joint statement titled ‘Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era‘ and signed after the Xi-Putin talks vowed to expand strategic coordination on major global issues and expand bilateral economic partnership.
"The two sides will boost the constructive force for building a multi-polar world and improving the global governance system, contribute more to maintaining global food and energy security and keeping industrial and supply chains stable, and work together for a community with a shared future for mankind," an official statement noted.