External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 15, 2025, marking a significant diplomatic engagement during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting.
This was Jaishankar’s first visit to China in six years and the highest-level bilateral interaction since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which had severely strained India-China relations.
During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Chinese President.
He briefed Xi on the current status of India-China relations and highlighted the need for a far-sighted and balanced approach to managing bilateral ties.
Jaishankar reiterated India’s position on ensuring peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and emphasized that differences between the two countries should not be allowed to turn into disputes.
He also underscored the importance of continuing border de-escalation efforts and fostering mutual trust through trade cooperation and enhanced people-to-people exchanges.
The Indian minister warned against the use of restrictive trade measures, advocating instead for open dialogue and regional cooperation under the SCO framework.
In addition to meeting President Xi, Jaishankar also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng.
Both sides acknowledged the progress made since the October 2024 Kazan summit and agreed to maintain the current positive momentum in their diplomatic engagements.
The visit is seen as a step towards stabilizing relations and addressing unresolved issues between the two Asian powers, particularly in the wake of longstanding border tensions and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
