External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday, signaling a cautious yet positive shift in India-China relations. The meeting comes amid efforts to rebuild trust following years of strained ties post the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
In his remarks, Jaishankar acknowledged the steady improvement in bilateral relations, particularly after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan summit in Russia last October.
“Our bilateral relationship has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan. I am confident that my discussions during this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” he said.
Jaishankar also extended India’s support for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and emphasized the importance of open dialogue between the two major Asian powers.
“India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO… As neighboring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives is very important,” he added.
This visit marks Jaishankar’s first trip to China in five years. During his stay, he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin on July 15.
Jaishankar also noted the significance of the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations and highlighted the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a gesture well-received in India after its suspension for nearly five years due to border tensions and the pandemic.
The resumption of dialogue between the two nations, including the revival of the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism for boundary talks, marks a deliberate attempt to de-escalate and normalize ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit India next month for further discussions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval under this framework.
Jaishankar’s visit follows recent trips to China by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval, indicating a renewed diplomatic push to resolve outstanding issues and re-engage through multilateral forums like the SCO.
Relations between India and China had hit a historic low following the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, the worst border confrontation in over four decades. The renewed diplomatic engagement, including Jaishankar’s current visit, is being seen as a cautious but significant step towards thawing frosty relations.
