Jaishankar meets Chinese President Xi Jinping

New Delhi, Jul 15: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid efforts to stabilise India-China ties.

In a post on social media platform X, Dr. Jaishankar said he “called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers.” He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties,” adding that India values “the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”

Dr. Jaishankar’s visit comes at a time when both countries are seeking to maintain dialogue despite unresolved border tensions. As part of his engagements, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting on Monday with Chinese Foreign Minister and CPC Politburo Member Wang Yi. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks were “constructive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to maintain regular contact, including through high-level visits. Dr. Jaishankar also met with Vice President Han Zheng and the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Liu Jianchao. These meetings signal a broader outreach by New Delhi to engage multiple levels of the Chinese leadership structure during the visit. Jaishankar’s visit is being closely watched for signs of improvement in bilateral relations and the potential resumption of higher-level India-China exchanges.