Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday, focusing on the continued efforts to improve India-China relations. Wang Yi noted that both countries have made significant progress in implementing the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan, Russia, last year.
Wang Yi highlighted the positive interactions between India and China at all levels, which have accelerated the process of enhancing bilateral ties. He emphasized the need for both countries to explore more substantial measures that promote mutual understanding, support, and achievement, rather than falling into cycles of suspicion and alienation.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, “Since the meeting between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi in Kazan, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus, carried out positive interactions at all levels, and accelerated the improvement of China-India relations. The two sides should seize the opportunity to meet each other halfway, exploring measures that focus on mutual understanding and support, rather than mutual suspicion and alienation.”
Wang Yi further stressed that the strengthening of China-India relations aligns with the fundamental interests of both nations and their peoples and contributes to the prosperity and peace of Asia and the global South.
During the meeting, Vikram Misri acknowledged the positive strides made by both India and China in implementing the agreements made by their leaders. He expressed India’s readiness to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China and reiterated India’s full support for China’s role as the chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Misri emphasized that India and China have engaged in numerous productive dialogues based on the consensus reached in Kazan, addressing differences and resuming practical cooperation in various areas.
Vikram Misri is on a two-day visit to Beijing for the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism meeting between India and China. This bilateral mechanism is part of the ongoing efforts following the agreement at the leadership level to explore next steps for India-China relations, covering political, economic, and people-to-people exchanges.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Misri would meet China’s Vice Minister and hold discussions on all areas of bilateral interest, including visa policies, direct air connectivity, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
India and China recently reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements in the Depsang Plains and Demchok, key friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These arrangements followed earlier disengagements in other sensitive areas in eastern Ladakh, achieved through multiple diplomatic and military-level meetings.
As the two countries continue to address longstanding issues and build on their bilateral relationship, discussions at this level are expected to further strengthen India-China ties.
