External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid signs of gradual improvement in India-China relations. This is Jaishankar’s first visit to China in five years.

During their meeting, Jaishankar conveyed India’s support for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and noted a steady improvement in bilateral ties since Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2024.

“Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today. Conveyed India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency. Noted the improvement in our bilateral ties. And expressed confidence that discussions during my visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” Jaishankar posted on X.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said:

“Our bilateral relationship has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also been widely welcomed in India. Continued normalization of our ties can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes.”

The two sides also acknowledged the significance of marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. Jaishankar emphasized the need for open dialogue, especially given the complex global landscape:

“As neighboring countries and major economies, it is vital for India and China to maintain an open exchange of views and perspectives.”

Jaishankar’s visit follows his trip to Singapore and comes after similar high-level visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to China for SCO-related meetings in June.

He is also scheduled to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin on July 15 and will hold bilateral talks on the sidelines, including a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Wang Yi will be their first formal bilateral discussion since their brief interaction at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg earlier this year. Notably, Wang Yi is also expected to visit India next month to continue the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue, aimed at resolving the long-standing boundary dispute.

This diplomatic outreach marks a significant turn since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, the most serious border confrontation in over four decades, which led to a sharp downturn in bilateral relations.

The decision to revive the SR dialogue and re-engage through diplomatic channels is widely seen as a key takeaway from the Modi-Xi interaction in Kazan. One of the clearest signs of improving relations has been the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended since 2019.