India-China Relations: S. Jaishankar to Embark on Three-Day Visit to China from July 13 to Attend Key SCO Summit
In a significant diplomatic development, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is set to embark on a crucial three-day official visit to China starting July 13, where he will represent India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. This visit comes on the heels of earlier high-level engagements involving Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, marking a continuing momentum in bilateral discussions between India and China.
A Crucial Visit After Galwan Standoff
Dr. Jaishankar’s upcoming trip holds particular strategic and symbolic importance, as it will be his first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, a violent border skirmish that caused a major setback in India-China relations. While the two nations have engaged diplomatically on multiple global platforms since the incident, this will be the first time the Indian Foreign Minister is travelling to China post the escalation, making the visit a potentially pivotal moment in the trajectory of bilateral ties.
Diplomacy Through the SCO Platform
According to senior sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar’s visit will commence in Beijing, followed by his participation in the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tianjin, underlining the strategic relevance of multilateral diplomacy. With China currently holding the presidency of the SCO, the meeting presents an opportune moment for both sides to engage under a broader regional framework, alongside member nations such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and others.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded to promote political, economic, and security-related cooperation in Eurasia, offers a structured environment for dialogue that goes beyond bilateral boundaries. Within this setting, India and China have the opportunity to engage constructively, not just on regional security issues, but also to pave the way for more stable diplomatic engagement on contentious bilateral matters.
Signals of a Fresh Chapter in Bilateral Relations
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit is being widely interpreted by foreign policy experts as a potential stepping stone toward a fresh chapter in India-China relations. The past four years have been marred by border tensions, disengagement talks, and frosty exchanges at various diplomatic levels. However, this high-profile visit, facilitated through the SCO platform, is being seen as a move to restore stability, rebuild mutual trust, and lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation.
Analysts also point to the timing of the visit as particularly important. With both countries facing global and regional challenges, including trade disruptions, energy security concerns, and geopolitical realignments, the need for sustained dialogue has become even more pressing.
The Modi-Xi Jinping Dialogue: A Diplomatic Breakthrough
A notable thaw in the tense relationship was observed during the October 2024 BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was the first formal interaction between the two leaders in over five years and marked a significant diplomatic reset. During the talks, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India-China relations must be built on the pillars of mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, and sensitivity to each other’s core interests.
This top-level engagement set the stage for subsequent high-level visits and discussions, including those by India’s National Security Advisor and the Defence Minister.
Strategic Visits by Top Indian Officials
In the months following the BRICS summit, NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited China for multiple rounds of strategic dialogues. Doval, while attending the SCO Security Advisors’ meeting in Beijing, strongly voiced India’s concerns regarding terrorism emanating from Pakistan, particularly from groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, thereby reinforcing India’s firm stance on cross-border terrorism.
During his diplomatic mission, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held key talks with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, reiterating India’s position on the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He highlighted the necessity of pursuing dialogue to resolve outstanding issues and mentioned that confidence-building measures—such as the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra—are encouraging signs in the 75-year-long diplomatic journey between India and China.
A Visit with Both Symbolism and Substance
As Dr. S. Jaishankar prepares to travel to China, the global and regional community will be closely watching. Beyond symbolic value, the visit is expected to open channels for direct diplomatic conversation on sensitive issues, including border disengagement, trade imbalances, and multilateral cooperation.
Given the significance of the SCO platform and the current fragile state of India-China relations, the visit offers a rare chance to recalibrate the diplomatic discourse between the two Asian giants. Whether it results in a tangible breakthrough remains to be seen, but it undeniably reflects a renewed willingness to engage and rebuild a relationship rooted in dialogue rather than discord.
