External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently visiting China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting, held alongside other SCO Foreign Ministers, focused on the evolving state of India-China relations. Jaishankar conveyed warm greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi.
Following the discussion, Jaishankar shared a post on X, expressing gratitude for the meeting. He mentioned that he had briefed Xi on the recent advancements in bilateral ties and emphasized the value of leadership guidance in steering diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Jaishankar’s trip to China comes amid broader diplomatic engagements surrounding the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. On Monday, he held in-depth talks with Chinese Foreign Minister and Politburo member Wang Yi. The discussions centered on fostering a forward-looking strategy to improve ties, stressing the need for stability and constructive dialogue.
In his statement, Jaishankar highlighted critical areas requiring attention, including the longstanding border tensions, resuming people-to-people exchanges, and addressing barriers in trade. He asserted that with mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other’s concerns, India and China could nurture a more positive and stable relationship.
During his visit, Jaishankar also met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. He acknowledged recent improvements in bilateral relations and reiterated India’s support for China’s current SCO presidency. Jaishankar expressed optimism that his meetings in Beijing would continue to advance the upward trend in diplomacy.
This trip marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since relations deteriorated sharply following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020—the deadliest border conflict between the two nations in over four decades. That incident led to a freeze in several diplomatic channels.
However, recent engagements signal cautious optimism. The revival of the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue, suspended for years, was reportedly agreed upon during a brief exchange between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Kazan summit in Russia in 2024. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after nearly five years also reflects early signs of thawing ties.
Next month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit India for further SR-level boundary discussions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, as both sides look for ways to reduce tensions and rebuild trust.
