India’s foreign minister met with his Chinese counterpart Friday, saying there’s been “some notable developments” made between the two nations in a bid to improve relations.

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 foreign ministers’ summit in Johannesburg, their first in-person meeting since the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November.

“Such gatherings have provided an opportunity for our interaction even when our ties were going through a difficult phase,” Jaishankar said, according to a readout of the meeting. “We should also recognise that in a polarised global situation, our two countries have worked hard to preserve and protect the G20 as an institution. This in itself testifies to the importance of international cooperation.”

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing soured significantly in 2020 after a series of deadly border skirmishes, with India subsequently restricting visas and investment and banning Chinese smartphone apps. The two nations began restoring ties last year and recently agreed to resume direct flights and facilitate visas for travel.

The G20 meeting has been marred by the US’s snub of the event. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to attend this week’s meeting in protest at what he said was an attempt by South Africa to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and tackle climate change.