External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing, sharing updates on the progress in India-China bilateral relations. Jaishankar conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the value of leadership guidance in advancing ties. The meeting, part of Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, reflects a cautious optimism following recent border disengagements in eastern Ladakh, notably at Demchok and Depsang.
Jaishankar also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng, focusing on sustaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and normalizing people-to-people exchanges, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Discussions highlighted mutual respect and the need to address trade barriers, with India raising concerns over China’s export restrictions on critical minerals. Social media sentiments on X show mixed views, with some praising the diplomatic thaw, while others question the pace of resolving core border issues. The visit signals a step toward stabilizing relations, with plans for further dialogue under the Special Representatives mechanism.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 16th, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
