EAM Jaishankar Engages with President Xi Jinping in First China Visit Post-2020 Galwan Clash
In a significant diplomatic move, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, marking a vital step in the ongoing endeavor to stabilize and normalize the relations between India and China. This meeting represents Jaishankar's first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict, which had considerably strained the bilateral ties.
During their discussion, Jaishankar informed President Xi about the latest developments in the bilateral relationship and conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharing a photograph of the meeting on the social media platform X, Jaishankar stated, “Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
This interaction with President Xi took place within a broader regional diplomatic context, as Jaishankar is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting. He was joined by his counterparts from other SCO member nations during this engagement.
Prior to meeting Xi, Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining open and continuous dialogue between India and China. He remarked, “As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important,” preceding his bilateral discussions in Beijing.
The relationship between the two countries has seen gradual improvement since a notable easing began in October 2024, following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazan. That encounter facilitated mutual disengagement plans at remaining flashpoints in Ladakh, particularly in Depsang and Demchok.
In anticipation of his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar expressed optimism regarding his ongoing visit. “I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” he remarked.
Jaishankar's visit to China follows a stop in Singapore, part of a broader two-nation diplomatic tour intended to bolster India's role in regional stability and multilateral cooperation. His visit is being closely observed as a critical indicator of the long-term normalization of ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
