External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, along with other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised Xi of recent developments in India-China bilateral ties.
In a post on X, Jaishankar shared, “Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister @narendramodi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
Jaishankar is currently in China to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, marking his first visit to Beijing since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. His visit follows earlier visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval to China for SCO-related engagements.
On Monday, Jaishankar held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasizing the need for a “far-seeing approach” to India-China relations. He also highlighted key priorities:
- Addressing border issues
- Normalizing people-to-people exchanges
- Removing trade barriers and restrictions
Jaishankar stressed that mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity should guide the way forward for a stable and constructive relationship.
The Indian minister also met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, reaffirming India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency and acknowledging recent improvements in bilateral ties.
The visit is seen as part of a broader diplomatic effort to revive the stalled Special Representatives (SR) dialogue, following the 2020 Galwan standoff, which severely strained relations. A brief interaction between PM Modi and President Xi on the sidelines of the Kazan Summit in 2023 reportedly helped reopen dormant diplomatic channels.
One of the key positive signals has been the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year pause, viewed as a small but symbolic gesture in thawing ties.
With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expected to visit India next month to continue SR-level discussions, the current visit signals cautious optimism for rebuilding trust and addressing longstanding disputes.
