Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Scheduled to Visit China This Month
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is anticipated to visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, a significant coastal city in Shandong Province. Should this visit be confirmed, it would represent the first ministerial engagement between India and China since their relations began to improve following the October 2024 agreement to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This year, China chairs the SCO, a crucial regional organization comprising 10 nations, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian countries. The forthcoming meeting is set to address issues related to regional security cooperation, counter-terrorism, and connectivity.
Rajnath Singh previously met with his Chinese counterpart, Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, during the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Vientiane, Laos. This meeting took place after the landmark October 2024 agreement that reinstated coordinated patrolling and troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, effectively concluding a prolonged military standoff since the 2020 Galwan clash.
The visit is part of a broader initiative by both nations to normalize bilateral relations. The process of rapprochement began after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. Since this meeting, several confidence-building measures have been implemented, such as the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, data sharing on transboundary rivers, restoration of direct air connectivity, and efforts to simplify visa procedures and enhance cultural exchanges.
India has reiterated its support for China’s SCO presidency, a stance emphasized during recent talks in New Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
Beyond this anticipated visit, other high-level engagements have been underway. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval traveled to China in December 2024 for the 23rd Special Representatives Meeting, and the Indian Foreign Secretary made a visit to Beijing in January 2025. Additionally, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit India later this year for the 24th round of SR-level talks.
In another sign of warming relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently extended condolences to Indian leaders following the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.
