In a pivotal diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, marking a key moment in the ongoing effort to stabilize and normalize India-China relations. This is Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which had significantly strained bilateral ties.
During the meeting, Jaishankar apprised President Xi of the recent developments in the relationship between the two Asian powers and conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharing a photograph of the meeting on social media platform X, Jaishankar noted, “Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
The meeting with President Xi comes amid a broader regional diplomatic framework, as Jaishankar is in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ gathering. He was accompanied by his counterparts from other SCO member nations during the interaction.
Before meeting Xi, Jaishankar also held discussions with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and emphasized the importance of open and sustained dialogue between India and China. “As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important,” he said ahead of his bilateral meetings in Beijing.
Relations between the two countries have gradually improved since a significant thaw began in October 2024, following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazan. That meeting paved the way for mutual disengagement plans at the remaining flashpoints in Ladakh, notably in Depsang and Demchok.
Speaking ahead of his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar expressed optimism about his ongoing visit. “I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” he said.
Jaishankar’s China leg follows a stop in Singapore, as part of a broader two-nation diplomatic tour aimed at reinforcing India’s role in regional stability and multilateral cooperation. His visit is being closely watched as a litmus test for the long-term normalization of ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
