Jaishankar Meets Xi Jinping In First Visit To China Since Galwan Clash

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, marking his first visit to China in six years, Times of India reported.

The visit, tied to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting, comes amid signs of improving India-China relations after prolonged border tensions.

“Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers,” Jaishankar posted on X. “Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”

In a separate meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar highlighted “good progress” in bilateral ties over the last nine months, particularly in resolving friction along the Line of Actual Control.

He stressed that peace on the border was essential for restoring strategic trust and furthering relations. “It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation,” he said.

Emphasising the need to sustain momentum, Jaishankar stated, “We have earlier agreed that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict. Stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only to our benefit, but that of the world as well.”

He also voiced concerns about China’s export controls impacting Indian manufacturing and called for fewer trade restrictions. On people-to-people ties, he pushed for the resumption of direct flights and easing travel norms. “Measures towards normalising our people-to-people exchanges can certainly foster mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

At the SCO forum, Jaishankar reiterated India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and called for cooperation on trans-border rivers, welcoming China’s move to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

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