(Image source from: x.com/DrSJaishankar)
India's Foreign Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, spoke with China's Vice President, Han Zheng, in Beijing on Monday and said that their connection has been getting better. Jaishankar sounded positive that the talks during his time there would help continue this good progress. While talking with Han Zheng, he said that India supports China's work with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Jaishankar wrote on X, "I was happy to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after I got to Beijing today. I told him that India is behind China as it leads the SCO. I noticed that our connection is growing. I am sure that discussions while I am here will keep things moving positively." When he first spoke during the meeting with Han, Jaishankar stressed that he thought talks on this trip would keep things going in a good way. He said that the relationship between the two nations has been improving since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked in Kazan.
He said, "India wants China to do well as it leads the SCO. Your Excellency, as you said, our relations have been steadily getting better since Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October. I am hopeful that the talks I have while I am here will keep that positive movement going." Jaishankar mentioned that India and China have recently celebrated 75 years of having diplomatic connections. He added that India really appreciates that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has started again. He mentioned, "We have celebrated, Your Excellency, the 75th anniversary of our official connections. India really values that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is back. Continuing to make our relations normal can help both sides."
Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 14, 2025
Conveyed India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency.
Noted the improvement in our bilateral ties. And expressed confidence that discussions during my visit will maintain that positive trajectory. pic.twitter.com/F8hXRHVyOE
Referring to the current world situation as "complicated," EAM Jaishankar said, "The world situation, as we meet today, Your Excellency, is quite complex. Because we are neighbors and big economies, it is important for India and China to talk openly. I am looking forward to having these talks during this visit."
Jaishankar arrived in China after finishing his trip to Singapore, which was his first time in China in five years. He is expected to meet Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart, for a serious talk on Monday. Jaishankar and Wang Yi last talked in February at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg, where they both asked for trust and working together. Jaishankar will also be at the SCO Foreign Ministers&039; Meeting in Tianjin on July 15. The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that "EAM will go to the People&039;s Republic of China to be at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers&039; Meeting in Tianjin. EAM will have talks with others alongside the CFM." This is the External Affairs Minister’s first time going to China since things got tense after the deadly fight in Galwan in 2020. Jaishankar's visit happens after trips by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who went to China in June for the SCO meetings.
Wang Yi is expected to go to India next month to talk with NSA Ajit Doval. This trip is part of scheduled discussions using the Special Representatives method to try and resolve the ongoing border issue.
The fight in Galwan Valley in 2020 between India and China was the worst border fight in more than forty years, and soldiers died from both countries. This made things much more tense and caused a very bad point in how they got along. The choice to begin the SR talks again and other stopped talks was said to have happened during a quick chat between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at a meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October last year. There have been some good signs, like the return of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after nearly five years.
(Video Source: ThePrint)
