EAM Jaishankar meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, first high-level interaction since 2020 border standoff

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on his first visit to China in five years, held a face-to-face meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 15, marking the highest-level engagement since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

Jaishankar conveyed greetings from President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, and updated Xi on the recent normalization of bilateral channels following disengagement at Demchok and Depsang in October 2024.

Earlier, Jaishankar met Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasising the importance of de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and urging both nations to let differences remain differences — not disputes.

He also urged China to avoid restrictive trade measures and non-tariff roadblocks, subtly referencing recent Chinese export curbs on strategic minerals.

These discussions build on broader diplomatic momentum: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Qingdao meeting in June and the re-engagement of dialogue mechanisms since Prime Minister Modi’s October 2024 meeting with Xi in Kazan—venues seen as vital in resetting relations after four years of strain.

Yet, key issues linger. Both Jaishankar and Singh acknowledged the necessity to build on the “positive trajectory” by addressing unresolved trust deficits, border protocols, and strategic competition . Additionally, matters such as China’s stance on Dalai Lama succession and its partnership with Pakistan and Bangladesh loom large in Indian policy circles.

Jaishankar’s engagement marks a pivotal moment, setting the stage for Prime Minister Modi’s potential visit to China at the upcoming SCO leaders’ summit, and signals India’s commitment to rebuilding stability through structured diplomacy and sustained dialogue.