Jaishankar Calls for Open Dialogue with China, Highlights Need to Normalise Ties During Key Visit to Beijing

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday underscored the importance of open and constructive dialogue between India and China, stating it was “very important” for the two neighbouring nations and major economies to exchange views and perspectives amid a complex global environment.

Speaking in Beijing during his first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, Jaishankar emphasized the need to continue normalising bilateral ties, which he said was essential for achieving “mutually beneficial outcomes.”

“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 said during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

He also welcomed the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year hiatus, calling the move “widely appreciated in India.” The pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent deterioration in India-China relations.

Jaishankar noted that the overall relationship has shown signs of improvement since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Kazan in October 2024. That meeting marked a turning point, leading to troop disengagement in key friction points like Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh.

“I am confident that my discussions during this visit will help sustain that positive trajectory,” he said.

Jaishankar’s China visit follows high-level trips by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in June, signaling a continued diplomatic effort to stabilize ties.

During his stay, Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Tianjin.