External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on his initial visit to China in five years, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday as both nations seek to restore relations after the border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Jaishankar, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in China, informed the Chinese President about the latest changes in bilateral relations.
Posting a photo from the gathering, Jaishankar mentioned on X that he discussed the advancement of India-China relations with Jinping and also extended the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
From Galwan Clash to SCO Engagement
The June 2020 Galwan standoff was a major blow to bilateral ties, sharply halting diplomatic and military communication. Yet, recent developments signal a gradual thaw:
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October 2024: Disengagement in Depsang and Demchok
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January 2025: Resumption of direct India‑China flights
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April 2025: Kailash Mansarovar yatra resumed
Minister Jaishankar’s visit follows high-level visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval in June 2025 for other SCO meetings.
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During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi. He briefed Xi on recent bilateral progress and lauded SCO as a collaborative platform. It was his first visit to China in 5 years, attended alongside SCO foreign ministers.
Key Agendas
Jaishankar urged India and China to ensure that the differences do not become disputes, nor competition turns into conflict. He asked China to remove restrictive trade practices, especially those affecting rare-earth imports, and highlighted border management and hydrological data sharing
Discussed were the resumption of flights, hydrological cooperation, and the continuation of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
China described the meeting as stepping toward a “Dragon‑Elephant Tango,” suggesting India and China can collaboratively reshape global order, moving beyond a US-centric alignment.
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The Way Forward
This meeting could catalyse a revival of SR-level boundary talks, possibly via NSA/Foreign Minister channels. It could futher enhance reduction in border tensions through practical steps like troop pulls, patrol coordination, river data-sharing, etc.
It could also assist in strengthening economic and people-to-people ties via trade facilitation and resumed flights.
