External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to visit Beijing on Sunday, marking his first trip to China since the violent confrontations in the Galwan Valley. This visit is seen as part of an effort by both India and China to de-escalate tensions and normalize bilateral relations.
Jaishankar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The last meeting between the two occurred during the G20 summit held in Johannesburg in February.
Beyond the bilateral meeting, Jaishankar will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tianjin on July 15. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed Jaishankar’s visit, indicating that he will also engage in multiple bilateral meetings alongside the summit.
The visit takes place against the backdrop of strained India-China relations. Earlier, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also visited China for the SCO meeting. A visit by Wang Yi to India is also anticipated next month, which might involve talks with Ajit Doval to address the border dispute.
Despite ongoing diplomatic talks, India is concerned about China’s trade practices. China has halted the supply of essential items such as rare earth magnets and fertilizers, along with equipment for the bullet train project. Moreover, India is wary of China’s support for Pakistan, especially during the May clashes.
India declined to sign the SCO declaration in June, citing the exclusion of its concerns regarding terrorism. The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, was not included, while references were made to incidents in Pakistan.
The SCO, a 10-nation Eurasian organization comprising countries such as India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran, is planning its 25th summit in Tianjin later this year. India chaired it in 2023, and Pakistan hosted the summit in 2024.
The 2020 Galwan clash, the most severe on the India-China border in the last four decades, significantly damaged relations. However, following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, in October last year, both countries agreed to resume talks between special representatives.
A positive development includes the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after almost five years. It’s unclear whether Prime Minister Modi will attend the upcoming SCO summit.