External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday, emphasised that the continued normalisation of India-China relations could lead to “mutually beneficial” outcomes.
He underscored the importance of open dialogue and the exchange of perspectives as essential between the two neighbours and leading global economies.
Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to China to attend the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, held talks with Vice President Han in Beijing soon after his arrival.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said, “Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed out, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory.”
Marking the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties, Jaishankar highlighted a key milestone: the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions.
“The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” he noted.
Commenting on the current global context, Jaishankar added, “The international situation, as we meet today, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important.”
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said in a post on X, “Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today. 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.”
This is Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley face-off in June 2020, which severely strained bilateral relations.
While he has interacted with his Chinese counterpart at multilateral forums since then, this visit marks a significant step in high-level diplomatic engagement amid ongoing border concerns.
(With inputs from IANS)