
EAM Jaishankar to tour Singapore, China from July 13
Mr. Jaishankar is visiting China to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Chinese city of Tianjin, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
It would be Mr. Jaishankar's first visit to China after the ties between the two countries came under severe strain following the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
"External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be visiting Singapore and the People's Republic of China from July 13 to 15," the MEA said.
In Singapore, Mr. Jaishankar will meet his counterpart and the leadership of the country as part of the regular exchanges between the two sides, it said.
"Thereafter, the external affairs minister will visit the People's Republic of China to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) being held in Tianjin," the ministry said in a statement.
Mr. Jaishankar will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Doval visited Beijing in December last year and held the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary question with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Mr. Doval visited China last month as well for a meeting of top security officials of the SCO member nations.
Mr. Jaishankar's visit comes less than three weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to the Chinese port city of Qingdao to participate in the SCO defence ministers' conference.
China is the current chair of the SCO and is hosting the meetings of the grouping in that capacity.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and a deadly clash at the Galwan valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in ties between the two neighbours.
The face-off effectively ended after the completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21 last year.
In the last few months, India and China have initiated a number of measures to repair the bilateral ties.
The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23.
The Modi-Jinping meeting came two days after India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok.
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Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
India-China ties have made good progress, border de-escalation is key, says Jaishankar
Underlining that 'differences should not become disputes' nor should 'competition ever become conflict', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday that while India and China have made good progress in the past nine months towards the normalisation of bilateral relations, they should work to address de-escalation on the border. This is Jaishankar's first visit to China since the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020. Meeting Wang Yi ahead of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday, Jaishankar said that terrorism is a 'shared concern' and India hopes that 'zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld' at the meeting. He also said that 'restrictive trade measures and roadblocks' should be avoided. 'Our bilateral relationship requires that we take a far-seeing approach to our ties. Since our leaders' meeting in Kazan in October 2024, the India-China relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction. Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum,' Jaishankar said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23 last year, after a border patrolling arrangement was announced on October 21. Since then, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has travelled to China twice; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have also gone there for meetings. 'In recent times, the two of us have had several opportunities to meet at international events and carry out strategic communication. It is our expectation that this will now be regular and take place in each other's countries,' Jaishankar said. On the border situation, where an estimated 50,000-60,000 troops are still stationed, he said: 'We have made good progress in the past nine months for the normalisation of our bilateral relations. It is a result of the resolution of friction along the border and our ability to maintain peace and tranquility there. This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations. It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation.' Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, that there is a need for a 'structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation'. Jaishankar's reiteration of the need for 'de-escalation' is an important signal to Beijing. On the economic challenges in the relationship, Jaishankar said: 'As neighbouring nations and major economies in the world today, there are various facets and dimensions of our ties. Measures towards normalising our people-to-people exchanges can certainly foster mutually beneficial cooperation. It is also essential in this context that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided.' India has officially raised the issue of rare earth magnet supply, as Beijing has imposed restrictions on their export. China, which controls over 90 per cent of global processing capacity for the magnets used for automobiles, clean energy and home appliances, enacted restrictions in April requiring companies to obtain import permits from Beijing. India's auto sector has been facing the brunt of these restrictions. Jaishankar underlined that the SCO's primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. 'This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld,' he said, in a thinly-veiled reference to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in India. Delhi has declared a doctrine of zero tolerance to terror, and launched Operation Sindoor to strike terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack in April. Framing the bilateral ties in the overall context, Jaishankar said: 'Stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only to our benefit, but that of the world as well. This is best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. We have also earlier agreed that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict. On this foundation, we can now continue to develop our ties along a positive trajectory.' Jaishankar conveyed wishes to the Chinese side for a 'successful SCO presidency', and said 'India is committed to ensuring good outcomes and decisions'. Stating that the two sides are marking the 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations, he said: 'We appreciate that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also resumed after a gap of five years. I thank the Chinese side for their cooperation on this matter'. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng shortly after landing in Beijing from Singapore in the second leg of his two-nation trip. He underlined that continued normalisation of India-China ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes and an open exchange of views between the two sides is 'very important' considering the 'complex' global scenario. 'Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October,' Jaishankar said. 'I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,' he said. 'The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,' he said. 'The international situation, as we meet today, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important,' he said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar and Wang Yi reviewed the state of the bilateral relationship. 'They took note of the recent progress made by the two sides to stabilise and rebuild ties, with priority on people-centric engagements, including activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year… The two sides agreed to take additional practical steps, including travel to each other's country and direct flight connectivity, for facilitating people-to-people exchanges,' it said. Jaishankar 'highlighted the positive impact of peace and tranquility in the border for the smooth development in bilateral relations and supported continued efforts towards de-escalation and border management. He underlined the need for cooperation on trans-border rivers, including resumption of provision of hydrological data by the Chinese side. He also took up restrictive trade measures and roadblocks to economic cooperation,' the MEA said. 'The discussions were constructive and forward-looking. The ministers agreed to remain in touch, including through bilateral visits and meetings,' it said. Meanwhile, according to a Chinese readout, 'Wang Yi said the current international pattern has profoundly evolved, and unilateral protectionism and powerful bullying have brought serious challenges to the world'. The relationship between the two countries is 'not aimed at third parties and should not be interfered with by third parties. Both sides should trust each other instead of being suspicious of each other, cooperate with each other rather than compete with each other,' Wang Yi said, according to the readout. 'As the two major neighbouring oriental civilisations and emerging economies, the essence of China-India relations is how to live in harmony,' it said. The two sides should have a long-term plan, adhere to the direction of good-neighbourliness and friendship, realise the 'dance of dragons and elephants', and find a way to respect and trust each other, co-exist peacefully and seek development together, it said. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More


Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
EAM seeks de-escalation, fair trade with China, hails progress in relationship
NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar's first visit to China in six years, amid the thawing of Sino-India ties, saw him pressing Beijing to further address border issues, including through de-escalation, while also urging China to avoid restrictive trade measures. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a meeting with his counterpart Wang Yi, Jaishankar acknowledged "good progress" in efforts to normalise the relationship saying it's a result of the resolution of friction along the border and both sides' ability to maintain peace and tranquillity. "This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations. It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation," said the minister. The Indian side said both countries agreed to take "practical steps", including travel to each other's country and direct flight connectivity, for facilitating people-to-people exchanges. India and China had resolved the almost five-year-old military standoff in eastern Ladakh last October. Need to avoid restrictive trade measures: EAM India and China had resolved the almost five-year-old military standoff in eastern Ladakh last Oct, leading to a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping on the margins of the Brics summit in Kazan. Jaishankar is in China for the SCO foreign ministers' meeting and Modi himself is expected to visit the country for the summit of the Eurasian bloc in September. Taking note of the positive direction in ties since the Modi-Xi meeting, Jaishankar sought a "far-seeing approach" to the relationship, saying it is the responsibility of both sides to maintain that momentum. In his meeting with Wang, Jaishankar also gave vent to India's concerns about China's export controls that may adversely affect domestic manufacturing here. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He said that as neighbouring nations and major economies in the world today, there are various facets and dimensions of their bilateral ties. "Measures towards normalising our people-to-people exchanges can certainly foster mutually beneficial cooperation. It is also essential in this context that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided," he said in his opening remarks, expressing hope that he and Wang would continue their "strategic communication" not just on the margins of multilateral events but each other's countries. Ahead of the SCO meeting on Tuesday, Jaishankar touched upon the issue of terrorism too as he reminded Wang that the primary mandate of the grouping is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. "This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld," he said, while backing China's SCO presidency and efforts to ensure good outcomes. In the meeting, Jaishankar also underlined the need for cooperation on trans-border rivers, including resumption of provision of hydrological data by the Chinese side. The minister also told Wang that stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only to their benefit, but that of the world as well. "This is best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, interest and sensitivity," he said, recalling the agreement earlier that differences should not become disputes, or competition turn into conflict. He said that on this foundation, both sides can continue to develop ties along a positive trajectory. He also thanked China for allowing the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra to resume after a gap of five years.


India Today
37 minutes ago
- India Today
We did that through trade: Trump again claims he averted India-Pak conflict
US President Donald Trump has once again said that he played a key role in stopping conflict between India and Pakistan. During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday (local time), Trump claimed that things were getting dangerous between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack, but his actions helped avoid a nuclear conflict."We have been very successful in settling wars, India, Pakistan... India, by the way, Pakistan would have been a nuclear war within another week, the way that was going. It was going very badly," Trump said that he used trade talks as a bargaining tool: "We did that through trade. I said, we are not going to talk to you about trade, unless you get this thing settled, and they did."VIDEO | US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) on India and Pakistan military conflict says, "We've been very successful in settling wars. You have India and Pakistan. You have Rwanda and the Congo, that was going on for 30 years. India, by the way, Pakistan would have been a nuclear Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 14, 2025 He had made a similar claim in June while talking to reporters on Air Force One."You know, I did something that people don't talk about, and I don't talk about very much, but we solved a big problem, a nuclear problem potentially with India and with Pakistan," he said."I spoke to Pakistan, I spoke to India, they have really great leaders, but they were going at it, and they could have gone at it nuclear," Trump has often taken credit for helping calm tensions between the two countries, especially after India carried out air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 REJECTS TRUMP'S CLAIMSIndia has firmly denied President Trump's claims, saying that all matters related to Jammu and Kashmir must be handled bilaterally between India and Pakistan, with no foreign a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "As you are aware, we have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed."The MEA also reminded that the main issue remains Pakistan's occupation of Indian territory: "The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian Territory by Pakistan."The Indian government also rejected Trump's claim that trade was used to settle the conflict. Officials clarified that during the time of 'Operation Sindoor', no discussion about trade took place between Indian and US the time OPERATION SINDOOR commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," the MEA launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and PoK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. After defending itself from Pakistan's military action, India cripple Pakistan's between India and Pakistan ended after a call from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, leading to an agreement to stop further military action.- EndsWith inputs from ANIMust Watch