Jaishankar urges ‘continued normalisation’ of ties between India and China

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in China on Monday (July 14, 2025) called for “continued normalisation” of ties between India and China when he met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. In his first visit since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Mr. Jaishankar said the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is “widely appreciated in India”.

Six years after the last Kailash Mansarovar yatra (pilgrimage) was held, the journy was restarted recently last month.

“It is a pleasure to be with you during my visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meeting. India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO,” he said.

The External Affairs Minister also said the bilateral relationship between India and China has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. “I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” he added.

The international situation is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important, Mr. Jaishankar said.

The Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO will be held in Tianjin on July 15. The SCO comprises 10 member states — China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

Mr. Jaishankar’s visit follows the recent visits of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to China.

China is the current chair of the SCO and it is hosting the meetings of the grouping in that capacity.