While visiting Beijing on Tuesday, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had an important meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, centering on the shifting trajectory of India-China relations.
Jaishankar, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting on behalf of India, extended warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi Jinping.
The meeting was as part of the SCO Foreign Ministers' delegation's formal visit to President Xi. Discussing moments of the meeting on X, Jaishankar tweeted: "Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Carried the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral relationship. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard."
This is Jaishankar's first visit to China after the Galwan Valley incident in May 2020. He is visiting to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin.
A day before meeting Xi, the EAM had a number of high-level talks with top Chinese leaders, with an aim to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Included among these interactions was a meeting with Liu Jianchao, director of the International Department of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee (IDCPC), where both parties deliberated on the need for a positive and forward-looking relationship between India and China.
Jaishankar had bilateral talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a high-profile CPC Political Bureau member. Highlighting the need for long-term vision in solving pending issues, Indian minister underlined the requirement to resolve border issues, restore people-to-people exchanges, and steer clear of trade-related impediments.
Incumbent on us to take up things related to the border, getting people-to-people contacts normalised and staying away from restrictive trade practices and roadblocks. Believing that on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, connections can go along a positive direction," Jaishankar tweeted on X following the meeting.
In addition, the EAM had a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, in which he also reaffirmed India's position that greater normalisation of relations could herald common good for both countries. He also emphasised the importance of free and open communication between the two Asian giants, particularly in the face of complexities of the global scenario today.
In a symbolic and diplomatic gesture, Jaishankar welcomed the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been paused since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions along the border. The visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China.
Jaishankar's visit and attendance at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting pave the way for the later-in-the-year 25th SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Tianjin. India had chaired the SCO during 2023 and Pakistan had hosted the 2024 Leaders' Summit.
The SCO, which was initially established as a regional security body, has evolved into a multilateral forum for mutual cooperation in counterterrorism, economic growth, security coordination, and connectivity. It comprises India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
India has stepped up its diplomatic outreach to the SCO in recent weeks with senior officials like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval traveling to China in June for SCO-led talks on regional security and defence cooperation.
