Dipanjan Mondal
24 June, 2025:
India and China are heading into their busiest and most high-level week of talks since the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Operation Sindoor last month, As National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travel to China for Sanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings.
Ajit Doval held an important meeting with Wang Yi, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China's Foreign Minister, during his visit to Beijing on Monday. Doval is in China to attend the 20th Meeting of the SCO Security Council Secretaries.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that both sides also reviewed recent progress in India-China relations and emphasized the need to foster the overall development of diplomatic ties, including enhanced people-to-people engagement.
“The NSA also emphasized the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region,” it said.
Doval also reviewed recent developments in India-China ties with Wang and both sides underscored the need to promote the overall development of relations, including by fostering greater people-to-people ties, the external affairs ministry said in a readout.
The NSA “emphasised the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region,” the readout said, without providing further details.
Chinese envoy to India Xu Feihong said that Wang Yi observed some positive progress in China-India ties and stressed the importance of both nations increasing communication, building mutual trust, and working to resolve practical challenges.
"Only when the dragon and elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome. China and India should properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border regions," Xu wrote in a social media post.
He further noted, "Doval said that India is willing to strengthen collaboration with China in multilateral fields and fully supports China's role as the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in hosting a successful summit."
"As two major Asian nations, India and China can make even greater contributions to the international community," Xu added.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Mr Doval and Wang also discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and global matters of shared interest.
"The NSA noted that he looked forward to meeting with Wang Yi in India at a mutually convenient date for the 24th round of the Special Representative (SR) talks," the MEA said.
China is hosting the SCO conclave in its capacity as the current chair of the SCO. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to attend the conclave in China's Qingdao from June 25 to 27. The visit would mark the first ministerial-level engagement between India and China since ties started improving after the October 2024 agreement to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
