Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This is the first formal meeting since the 2020 Galwan clash, where bilateral relations and border tensions were discussed.
SCO Summit: India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting. This visit by Jaishankar is significant in many ways as it is his first visit to China after the India-China military clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020.
Jaishankar's statement on bilateral relations
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Jaishankar shared information on social media, stating that he conveyed messages from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi Jinping. He said that the discussion included a detailed conversation on the state and future of India-China bilateral relations. Jaishankar also mentioned that special importance was given to the guidance provided by the leaders of both countries in this discussion.
Background of the meeting on the SCO platform
Jaishankar is currently participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers' meeting held in Beijing. During this meeting, foreign ministers of all member countries got the opportunity to meet President Xi Jinping. It was during this time that this first formal meeting between Jaishankar and Xi Jinping took place.
This is the first meeting after the Galwan clash
Relations between the two countries have been strained since the violent clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh in 2020. In this conflict, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, while China also acknowledged casualties among its soldiers. Against this backdrop, this visit by Jaishankar to China and his meeting with Xi Jinping are considered very important.
Bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as well
Upon arriving in Beijing, Foreign Minister Jaishankar also held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The talks discussed important issues such as maintaining peace on the border between the two countries, reducing tensions on the LAC (Line of Actual Control), trade, investment, and regional stability. Both countries agreed to continue dialogue through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the border dispute.
India's clear stance: Resolution through dialogue, peace on the border is essential
During the talks, Jaishankar clarified that India wants to normalize relations with China, but this is only possible if peace and stability are maintained on the border. He said that peace in the border areas is the foundation of cooperation between the two countries. Until trust is restored on the borders, progress in other areas will be hampered.
Important issues to be raised at the SCO meeting as well
At the SCO foreign ministers' meeting, Foreign Minister Jaishankar will highlight India's role on issues such as terrorism, regional cooperation, connectivity, and economic partnership. This meeting is also considered important in terms of regional peace and security, especially at a time when challenges like the Russia-Ukraine war, the Afghanistan crisis, and military tensions in Asia persist.
Participated in a roundtable meeting in Singapore earlier
Before his visit to China, Jaishankar was in Singapore, where he participated in the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. During this, he put forward several important proposals on economic, technical, and strategic cooperation and clarified India's role in regional stability.
