Beijing: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday and noted the improvement in bilateral ties. Jaishankar expressed confidence that discussions during his visit would maintain that positive trajectory.
During his meeting with Han Zheng, Jaishankar conveyed India’s support for China’s Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, “Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today. Conveyed India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency. Noted the improvement in our bilateral ties. And expressed confidence that discussions during my visit will maintain that positive trajectory.”
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar noted that the ties between the two nations have been improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan. He said, “India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Excellency, our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory.”
Jaishankar also highlighted the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and China and welcomed the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, calling it widely appreciated in India. “Continued normalization of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” he said.
On the global situation, Jaishankar remarked, “The international situation, as we meet today, Excellency, is very complex. As neighboring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important. I look forward to such discussions during this visit.”
Jaishankar arrived in China after concluding his visit to Singapore. This marks his first trip to China in five years. He is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for a bilateral meeting on Monday. The two leaders last met in February on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg, where both sides stressed mutual trust and cooperation.
Jaishankar will also attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin on July 15. The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “EAM will visit the People’s Republic of China to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (CFM) being held in Tianjin. EAM will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.”
This visit is significant as it is Jaishankar’s first since relations between India and China soured following the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. His trip follows visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who attended SCO meetings in China in June.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected to visit India next month for talks with NSA Ajit Doval as part of the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism to resolve the long-standing boundary dispute.
The 2020 Galwan Valley standoff, the worst border clash in over four decades, resulted in the deaths of soldiers on both sides and severely impacted diplomatic relations. The decision to revive the SR dialogue and other engagement channels was reportedly taken during a brief exchange between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan summit in October 2024.
One key sign of improved ties has been the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after nearly five years.
