Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to travel to China later this month to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, a major coastal city in China’s Shandong Province. This visit, if confirmed, would mark the first ministerial-level engagement between India and China since relations began improving after the October 2024 agreement to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The SCO, which is being chaired by China this year, is a key regional grouping comprising 10 countries, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian nations. The upcoming meeting will focus on regional security cooperation, counter-terrorism, and connectivity.
Rajnath Singh last met his Chinese counterpart, Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Vientiane, Laos. That meeting followed the historic October 2024 agreement that resumed coordinated patrolling and troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, ending a prolonged military standoff since the 2020 Galwan clash.
The visit is seen as part of a broader effort by both sides to restore normalcy in bilateral relations. The thaw began after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. Since then, several confidence-building measures have been initiated, including the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, data sharing on transboundary rivers, restoration of direct air connectivity, and steps toward easing visa procedures and boosting cultural exchanges.
India has also reiterated its support for China’s SCO presidency, as emphasized during recent discussions in New Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
In addition to this anticipated visit, other high-level interactions have been taking place. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China in December 2024 for the 23rd Special Representatives Meeting, and the Indian Foreign Secretary visited Beijing in January 2025. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected to visit India later this year for the 24th round of SR-level talks.
In a further sign of improving ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently extended condolences to Indian leaders following the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.
