Beijing, July 15: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday, reiterating India’s firm stance on counter-terrorism and highlighting the importance of stable and constructive bilateral ties. The high-level dialogue comes amid cautious efforts by both nations to restore normalcy following the 2020 border standoff.
.png)
Jaishankar is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Tianjin. In his opening remarks, he stressed the need for unwavering global commitment against terrorism, separatism, and extremism—core mandates of the SCO.
"Our meeting today will also include an exchange of views on global and regional issues. Tomorrow, we will be meeting in the format of the SCO, whose primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism. This is a shared concern, and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld," said Jaishankar.
His remarks take on added significance against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, where Indian officials have accused Pakistan—a close ally of China—of orchestrating cross-border terrorist activities. A senior Indian military official recently stated that China has been extending “all possible support” to Pakistan during the operation, further straining India-China strategic trust.
Emphasis on Border Stability and Diplomatic Progress
Addressing recent progress in bilateral relations, Jaishankar acknowledged positive developments over the past nine months, attributing them to successful disengagement at friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
"It is a result of the resolution of friction along the border and our ability to maintain peace and tranquility there. This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations," he noted.
The minister also called for a broader de-escalation of tensions and renewed commitment to previously agreed principles.
“We have earlier agreed that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict. On this foundation, we can now continue to develop our ties along a positive trajectory,” he added.
Significance of the Visit
Jaishankar’s trip marks his first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash severely damaged bilateral relations. The timing of his visit is especially noteworthy, coming just weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet in Qingdao. Singh notably declined to sign the joint declaration at the event, citing its omission of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, while referencing incidents in Pakistan.
Background: India-China Military Standoff
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020, reached a critical point with the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June that year. However, significant progress was made when disengagement from the remaining friction points at Demchok and Depsang was completed under a pact agreed upon on October 21, 2024.
A key turning point in the diplomatic thaw came during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on October 23, 2024, in Kazan, where both leaders agreed to revive suspended dialogue mechanisms and improve strategic communication.
As China chairs the SCO in 2025, the current round of high-level meetings in Tianjin is expected to further shape the direction of India-China engagement in the months ahead.
.png)
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.