In a significant diplomatic outreach ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting marks a continuation of efforts by both nations to stabilise and improve ties following recent signs of a thaw in India-China relations.
Wang Yi’s visit comes just days before the SCO Summit, scheduled to be held in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1, which PM Modi is confirmed to attend.
Reflecting on the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, PM Modi posted on X, “Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other’s interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity.”
An official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office emphasised the “steady and positive” progress in ties since the Kazan meeting, highlighting the importance of the “three mutuals” - mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity. The statement also noted the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, describing it as a symbolic step toward normalisation.
PM Modi also expressed his appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for the SCO Summit invitation and extended full support for China’s presidency of the organisation.
Earlier in the day, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held the 24th round of Special Representative-level talks with Wang Yi to discuss the long-standing boundary issue. Following the meeting, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that bilateral relations are now “on a steady development track,” and noted that the border situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is “stable and improving.”
NSA Doval echoed this sentiment in a televised statement, saying: “There has been an upward trend in India-China relations over the past nine months. The borders have remained calm, and our bilateral engagements have become more substantial.”
In his separate bilateral meeting with Wang Yi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar underscored the need for addressing core concerns and adopting a “candid and constructive” approach rooted in mutual respect and sensitivity.
During Wang Yi’s visit, Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with the Chinese foreign minister on Monday, covering regional and global developments. Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance that future ties must be guided by the principles of mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest.
“In that endeavour, we must be guided by the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. Differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict,” Jaishankar said.
The renewed diplomatic momentum between the two Asian powers comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin will provide an important platform for continued high-level dialogue.
While unresolved issues-especially those concerning the border-remain, the latest interactions suggest a joint effort by New Delhi and Beijing to stabilize relations, avoid confrontation, and focus on pragmatic cooperation.
Key Issues Discussed with Chinese counterpart
Terrorism: India firmly reiterated its position on the need to combat terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar stressed that fighting terrorism is a core objective of the SCO, and Wang reportedly agreed with this view.
Water Security: India raised serious concerns over China’s construction of a large dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River), warning of possible downstream impacts. India called for “utmost transparency” in China’s water infrastructure projects.
Taiwan: On the Taiwan issue, raised by the Chinese side, India clarified that its position remains unchanged. India emphasized that, like many other nations, it maintains economic, technological, and cultural ties with Taiwan-an approach that will continue. India also noted that China itself engages in similar forms of non-diplomatic interaction with Taiwan.