Chinese FM Wang Yi in India Today for Key Talks Amid Tariffs

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to begin a two-day official visit to India on Monday, marking an important chapter in ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two Asian giants. During his stay, Wang will engage in bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and hold boundary talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. His visit comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled trip to China later this month, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
The timing of Wang’s visit holds added weight as it coincides with growing turbulence in India’s trade relations with the United States. Washington recently raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent and imposed an additional 25 percent penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil. In this backdrop, strengthening regional ties with Beijing becomes an important balancing act for New Delhi.
Wang’s visit is expected to focus largely on peace-building initiatives along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both sides have around 50,000 to 60,000 troops stationed in eastern Ladakh, a deployment that continues to strain relations years after the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. While disengagement has taken place at several friction points, full de-escalation remains unfinished.
On Monday evening, Wang Yi will meet Jaishankar in New Delhi for bilateral talks that will cover the border situation, trade, and the possibility of resuming suspended flight services between the two nations. The following morning, he will hold the Special Representatives dialogue with NSA Doval, aimed at furthering dialogue on the contested boundary. Later on Tuesday, he is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Modi at his residence, an engagement the Ministry of External Affairs describes as highly significant given Modi’s upcoming China visit.
Beyond border issues, both governments are working to restore exchanges that had been suspended in recent years. These include the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the reopening of tourist visas for Chinese nationals. Discussions are also underway on reestablishing direct flight services, which were halted in 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and remained suspended due to ongoing tensions.
Recent months have seen increasing momentum in India-China diplomacy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EAM Jaishankar both travelled to China to attend SCO meetings. Meanwhile, NSA Doval visited Beijing in December, continuing the Special Representatives dialogue shortly after Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to revive key mechanisms during a meeting in Kazan last year.
As Wang Yi arrives in New Delhi, the visit is being viewed as a step toward rebuilding trust and stability between the two neighbors. Whether it leads to lasting breakthroughs or simply keeps dialogue channels open, the engagement will set the tone for Prime Minister Modi’s high-profile trip to China and beyond.