Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a significant meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at his residence in New Delhi, marking another step in the ongoing effort to improve relations between India and China. The meeting followed Wang Yi’s discussions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, signaling a renewed phase of engagement between the two Asian powers. During his interaction, the Prime Minister emphasized the steady improvement in bilateral relations since his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Kazan the previous year. He also accepted President Xi’s invitation to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month, reaffirming India’s commitment to constructive diplomatic engagement. Modi underlined that peace and stability along the border remain the foundation for healthy bilateral ties, while also stressing that predictable and constructive relations would significantly contribute to both regional and global peace and prosperity.
Earlier in the day, NSA Ajit Doval and Wang Yi engaged in talks under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism, a crucial framework for managing sensitive issues such as border security. Doval acknowledged that the past nine months had witnessed an “upward trend” in ties, marked by peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which had been severely strained since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. He noted that bilateral engagements had become more substantive and formally announced that Prime Minister Modi would travel to Tianjin to attend the SCO Summit on August 31 and September 1. The resumption of high-level visits, he said, highlights the growing importance of the SR talks in shaping a stable course for the relationship.
In his remarks, Wang Yi highlighted the importance of building greater mutual trust through strategic communication and expanding cooperation in shared areas of interest. He acknowledged the stability that has returned along the border and described the current phase of bilateral ties as an “important opportunity for improvement and growth.” Stressing the significance of Modi’s upcoming visit, Wang reiterated China’s commitment to resolving specific issues peacefully while broadening areas of cooperation. A day earlier, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that the guiding principles of the relationship must remain mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest, which could serve as the foundation for long-term stability.
The improving trajectory of India-China relations reflects a gradual de-escalation following years of heightened tensions after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The turning point came in October 2024 when Prime Minister Modi and President Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, agreeing to steer the relationship back on track. Since then, the two nations have taken several confidence-building measures, including the disengagement of troops from contested points along the LAC and the revival of people-to-people exchanges such as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and tourist visa issuance. These steps are widely seen as contributing to the restoration of trust and normalcy in the bilateral relationship.
Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi is particularly significant given the broader geopolitical context. It comes at a time when India’s ties with the United States are experiencing strain after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, along with an additional penalty of 25 percent for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Against this backdrop, the renewed momentum in India-China relations carries greater weight, as both nations explore avenues to stabilize their own ties while navigating shifting global alignments. By underscoring the importance of peace, cooperation, and respect for each other’s sensitivities, both sides appear committed to moving toward a more constructive and stable relationship.
