During a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar brought up India’s concerns about China’s construction of a mega dam on the Brahmaputra River. The project’s potential impact on countries downstream was a key point of discussion. Wang Yi’s visit to India was at the invitation of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. In addition to discussions on boundary questions, the Foreign Ministers addressed a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. India strongly condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and highlighted its importance within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China concurred with the need to prioritize countering terrorism. Discussions focused on the mega dam being built by China in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river. India emphasized the necessity of transparency in the project. Furthermore, India reaffirmed its position on Taiwan, maintaining its existing ties. The Indian government has been closely following China’s announcement of the mega dam project and is taking appropriate actions. Discussions on trans-border rivers are handled through an established Expert Level Mechanism and diplomatic channels, with India repeatedly expressing its concerns and advocating for the protection of downstream interests. The issue was previously raised during a meeting in Beijing, where the two sides agreed to further cooperation on hydrological data and other river-related matters.
