S Jaishankar, who is on his first China visit in five years, said he apprised the Chinese President of the recent development in bilateral ties.
S Jaishankar Meets China’s Xi Jinping
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 15, 2025, marking his first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The meeting signaled a significant step forward as India and China work to stabilize and rebuild their relationship after years of border tensions.
Jaishankar, leading the Indian delegation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi. During the meeting, he apprised Xi of the recent positive developments in India-China relations and emphasized the value of continued guidance from both countries’ leadership for further progress.
“Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. 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,” Jaishankar posted on X.
This engagement comes shortly after both nations agreed in October 2024 to disengage troops at the last remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang, the two contentious areas in eastern Ladakh. This breakthrough allowed the resumption of high-level dialogue mechanisms between India and China, which had been largely dormant since the 2020 standoff.
During his visit, Jaishankar also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two discussed the importance of a forward-looking approach in bilateral relations, underscoring mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity, especially regarding persistent border issues. Jaishankar stressed that the past nine months had seen notable progress in normalizing ties, primarily due to efforts at maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
He further highlighted that “differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict.” Both sides agreed on the need for de-escalation on the border and cooperation to create a stable and constructive relationship. Trade concerns and the necessity for easing restrictive measures were also discussed, as part of sustaining positive momentum for both nations.
Jaishankar’s meeting with President Xi, alongside fellow SCO Foreign Ministers, and his subsequent bilateral talks, are widely viewed as pivotal steps in moving India-China relations towards greater stability and trust after a prolonged period of tensions.
