External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Monday. This marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which sent bilateral ties into a downward spiral.
Opening remarks at my meeting with FM Wang Yi in Beijing.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 14, 2025
During the meeting, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of taking a “far-seeing approach” to the India-China relationship and building on recent progress. Extending good wishes to China for its presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Jaishankar noted, “India is committed to ensuring good outcomes and decisions.” He highlighted the resumed Kailash Manasarovar Yatra—halted since 2019—as a symbol of improved bilateral coordination, thanking the Chinese side for facilitating its revival.
Reflecting on recent dialogue and border de-escalation, Jaishankar acknowledged “good progress” over the past nine months, pointing to the resolution of certain frictions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for the smooth development of bilateral relations,” he stated, while also underlining the need for further de-escalation efforts and a focus on border-related concerns.
He called for regular high-level communication and a push to normalise people-to-people exchanges, which he said could serve as a catalyst for deeper cooperation. On the economic front, Jaishankar urged the removal of restrictive trade practices, emphasizing that such barriers could undercut efforts at normalisation.
“Stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only to our benefit but to that of the world as well,” Jaishankar said, reiterating that bilateral engagement should rest on “mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.”
The visit follows earlier trips to China by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in June for SCO-related engagements. These high-level exchanges signal a tentative but deliberate effort by both sides to put the relationship back on a more stable and constructive path.
