- China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Indian leaders to discuss a potential reset of bilateral ties.
- The visit is his first in three years and comes amid US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on both nations.
- PM Modi is scheduled to travel to China for the SCO summit, cementing the resumption of high-level contact.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Aug: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday evening, marking the first high-level visit from a Chinese official in three years. The visit, and a subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hints at a potential reset of fractured ties between the two nations as they navigate mounting trade pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The visit is a precursor to Prime Minister Modi’s trip to China’s Tianjin from August 31 to September 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. This diplomatic contact is seen as a significant step toward resolving long-standing disputes, including border issues in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and fostering a more stable regional environment. The visit is also expected to help restart crucial people-to-people exchanges, such as visas and direct flights, which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent border tensions.
The shared predicament of facing high tariffs from the Trump administration has been a catalyst for the thawing of ties. In July, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng called for the “dragon-elephant tango,” urging both nations to “become partners that enable each other’s success.” The sentiment was echoed by Chinese government-affiliated media. The bonhomie has been reciprocated, with Prime Minister Modi stating in March that his government’s focus is to ensure differences with China “don’t turn into disputes,” emphasizing dialogue to build a stable and cooperative relationship.
However, the path to full cooperation faces challenges, particularly China’s continued support for Pakistan. The text notes China’s reported blocking of a UN Security Council proposal to designate Pakistan-based individuals as global terrorists. This issue, along with the border dispute, will need to be addressed for a complete reset of ties. Nevertheless, the two nations are expected to continue cooperating on multilateral platforms like the SCO and BRICS to jointly counter Trump’s protectionist trade policies.
