India Calls for Open Dialogue with China to Sustain Recent Progress
India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday, emphasizing the critical need for open and consistent dialogue to maintain recent improvements in the relationship between the two nations. The high-level engagement took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, providing a key platform to discuss the future of their bilateral ties.
During the meeting, Jaishankar expressed confidence that the current discussions would help sustain the positive momentum that has been building since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October. He noted that the relationship has been steadily improving since that leadership-level interaction and affirmed India's support for a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO.
The minister highlighted several positive developments that underscore the recent thaw. He pointed to the recent commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a significant milestone. Furthermore, he conveyed that the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage of deep cultural importance, has been widely appreciated across India. These steps, he suggested, illustrate how the continued normalization of ties can produce outcomes that are mutually beneficial for both countries.
Acknowledging the turbulent nature of current global affairs, Jaishankar stressed that the complex international situation makes direct communication between New Delhi and Beijing even more essential. As major economies and influential neighboring nations, he asserted that an open exchange of views and perspectives is vital for navigating shared challenges and responsibilities on the world stage.
The meeting in Beijing serves as a reaffirmation of both countries' intent to manage their complex relationship through sustained diplomatic engagement. It signals a shared understanding that in a volatile world, direct and candid dialogue is the most effective path toward stability and fostering a relationship that can withstand regional and global pressures.
