Beijing: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping here July 15 and apprised him about the recent development of the India-China relationship.
This was Jaishankar’s first visit to China since ties between India and China soured in 2020.
Sharing a picture from the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on X that he spoke to Jinping about the development of India-China bilateral ties and also conveyed greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him.
“Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard,” a part of Jaishankar’s tweet read.
The external affairs minister was accompanied by his counterparts from the SCO member nations when he met Jinping.
Jaishankar is currently visiting China, his first to the neighbouring country since tensions sprung up due to the Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020.
Before Xi Jinping, Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing, and also urged dialogue between India and China. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important. I look forward to such discussions during this visit,” Jaishankar had said.
Ties between India and China began to significantly improve last year in October, following a meeting between PM Modi and President Jinping on the sidelines of a summit in Kazan in October 2024.
“I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory, ” said Jaishankar.
After the crucial meeting in Kazan, India and China had announced plans to disengage troops in Depsang and Demchok, the two flashpoints in Ladakh where the Indian and Chinese armies clashed since 2020.
Jaishankar’s visit to China is part of his two-nation visit, the first one being in Singapore that he recently wrapped up. He will also hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Wang Yi while in China.
