External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has met his Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Yi and also the Chinese President Xi Jinping as a part of his ongoing visit to the neighbouring country in the backdrop of the 25th SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting chaired by China. The meeting can be illustrated as a benchmark feet in the process of Narendra Modi government’s consistent strategic effort and diplomatic outreach to reset the Sino-India bilateral relations in order to ensure economic and national security, which had hit an all-time low in the aftermath of 2020 Galwan Clash.
On Tuesday (July 15) morning, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other SCO foreign ministers’ in Beijing. EAM acknowledged the recent developments in the India-China bilateral relations with the Chinese President and expressed his goodwill to work in the same direction under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi.
Dr. S. Jaishankar also held discussions with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi and reviewed the current status of bilateral relations along with charting a path further for rebuilding ties. The leaders emphasised on enhancing mutual cooperation as both the nations are acknowledging 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Working on Trade and People-to-People ties
The issues discussed between the Foreign Ministers of India and China encompass, vitality of ensuring peace and tranquility across the border by accelerating the process of de-escalation of troops which is at a slow-pace(though 9 months have been completed since the initiation of disengagement process), improved travel access, direct flight connectivity, cooperation on trans-border rivers and sharing of hydrological data from the Chinese side.
EAM Jaishankar also highlighted the roadblocks with respect to trade and economic cooperation as China has imposed restrictions on export of critical minerals from China. The statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted that the discussions were constructive and forward looking. Both the Ministers agreed for continuous bilateral visits and meetings. EAM also highlighted that the relations are on a ‘positive trajectory’.
The discussion on trade and economic cooperation is crucial as the India-China bilateral trade stands at approximately US $120 billion as of financial year 2024 which is a 4 percent increase compared to financial year 2023. In this more than US $100 billion trade, India imports electric equipment and gadgets, nuclear reactors and boilers, optical fibers, mechanical appliances, organic chemicals, plastic articles etc. As these imports are crucial for Indian industries and the manufacturing sector, cordial trade relations with China is pivotal for India in order to ensure economic security and boost manufacturing, atleast in the short-run until attaining complete self-sufficiency.
With this strategic vision, India makes persistent effort to reset ties with China and seeks to reduce the border tensions as well which is a key pretext to uplift relations in trade and other sectors, thereby ultimately ensuring economic security and prosperity for the people of India. EAM’s visit to Beijing thus, is a major push in this endeavour of recrafting Sino-India relations and ascertaining the economic security of the country.
A Strong Voice against Terrorism
Dr. S. Jaishankar has also voiced his intentions to fight against terrorism with the principle of ‘zero tolerance’. Thus, India is reiterating its goal of fighting against cross-border terrorism at multilateral and global platforms. The statement by EAM is a re-emphasis on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s stand on terrorism, where the latter exclaimed India’s concerns over cross-border terrorism and regional security and urged the SCO members to take a bold and principled stand against terrorism and their supporters, during the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet in China, the previous month.
Defence Minister had also refused to sign the joint statement that did not explicitly mention the Pahalgam terror attack and thereby consolidated India’s firm stand against cross-border terrorism. Such firm iteration by the Indian government especially at multilateral forums is a testament for India’s bold, credible and unparalleled resolve to protect the nation’s sovereignty and security against illicit forces.
In the history of Sino-India diplomatic relations, the latest visit by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to China is extremely significant as it is the maiden visit of him and the highest diplomatic visit from the Indian side in the aftermath of 2020 Galwan Clash. The visit to China on the sidelines of the SCO meet is thus, backed with dual motive. It gives leverage for India in its fight against cross-border terrorism and boosts India’s unequivocal approach for a balanced world order. The visit also helps to fulfill the government’s aim of rebuilding ties with its largest neighbour and the largest trading partner after a phase of conflict and mutual apprehension, without compromising on the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and strategic autonomy!
