Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visits China for the first time in five years after the Galwan clash. He met with Vice President Han Zheng and will participate in the SCO meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday.
Jaishankar-in China: Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has arrived in China for the first time since the violent clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in 2020. This visit is considered very important from a diplomatic perspective.
Meeting with Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing
Jaishankar arrived in Beijing, the capital of China, directly from Singapore on Monday, where he met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. During the meeting, they discussed improvements in bilateral relations and the progress made towards dialogue. Jaishankar stated that he expressed India's support for China's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Mention of 75 years of diplomatic relations
During the meeting, Jaishankar also mentioned the completion of 75 years of India-China diplomatic relations. He specifically mentioned the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, stating that it was highly appreciated in India. Jaishankar expressed confidence that the normalization of relations between the two countries would be mutually beneficial.
Discussion on international situation
Describing the conversation as positive, Jaishankar said that the international situation has become very complex at present. In such a scenario, the exchange of ideas between major and neighboring countries like India and China is extremely important. He added that there has been an improvement in relations between the two countries since the last meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.
Will participate in the SCO meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday
Jaishankar will participate in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being held in Tianjin on Tuesday. During this conference, he will also hold a bilateral discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The meeting is expected to address important issues such as border disputes, tensions on the LAC, trade, investment, and mutual cooperation.
First China visit after the Galwan clash
It is noteworthy that in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, several soldiers were martyred in the clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers, after which the relations between the two countries became heavily strained. Five years after that tense situation, the Indian Foreign Minister has now visited China for the first time, which signals a move to further talks between the two countries.
Also participated in a ministerial roundtable in Singapore
Before going to China, Jaishankar was in Singapore, where he participated in the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. He arrived in Beijing directly from there and began his China visit.
