Jaishankar Calls for Sustained Efforts to Normalize India-China Relations

Rapid Summary:

• Visit Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited China on July 14, 2025, marking his first visit since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
• Key Remarks: During his meeting with Chinese Vice President Han zheng, Jaishankar called for “continued normalisation” of India-China ties and emphasized the importance of open exchanges between neighboring nations.
• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumption: He noted that the recent resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a six-year hiatus has been “widely appreciated in India.”
• improving Bilateral Relations: The minister expressed confidence in maintaining positive momentum established during talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and president Xi Jinping in Kazan last October.
• SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting: Jaishankar is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meeting being held in Tianjin on July 15. The SCO currently includes China, Russia, india, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
• India’s Role at SCO: During discussions for SCO presidency under China’s chairmanship this year, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for China’s leadership within SCO.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

Jaishankar’s visit to China represents a critically important step following years marked by tension over boundary disputes along LAC. His call for “continued normalisation” signals India’s interest in stabilizing relations while recognizing areas conducive to cooperation like cultural exchanges through pilgrimages such as Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Given recent high-level visits from Indian officials to China – including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh – this diplomatic outreach aligns with broader strategic engagement aimed at fostering dialog amidst geopolitical complexities.China’s chairmanship of the SCO provides opportunities for strengthening multilateral cooperation among member states but also poses challenges given existing bilateral sensitivities. A robust partnership could leverage shared interests as major economies while addressing mutual differences constructively-a necessity underscored by jaishankar’s remarks about open exchange amidst uncertain international dynamics.

India will need to navigate cautiously between pursuing regional collaboration through platforms like SCO while ensuring its sovereign concerns are adequately safeguarded during bilateral interactions with Beijing. Read more at The Hindu.