Before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed that fighting terrorism, separatism, and extremism must remain the group’s main focus. He shared this message clearly during his meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Jaishankar said, “Tomorrow, we will be meeting in the format of the SCO, whose 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.”
Opening remarks at my meeting with FM Wang Yi in Beijing.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 14, 2025
https://t.co/Ypk5Tl3V9n
India Congratulates China and Focuses on Bilateral Ties
Jaishankar congratulated China on its new SCO presidency. He also promised India’s support to ensure the upcoming summit delivers productive results. Shifting focus to India-China relations, he mentioned that their ties have slowly improved since Prime Minister Modi and President Xi met in Kazan in October 2024. Jaishankar said, “Our bilateral relationship requires that we take a far-seeing approach to our ties.”
Held detailed talks with Politburo Member and FM Wang Yi in Beijing this evening.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 14, 2025
Spoke about the need for a far-seeing approach to bilateral ties and building a stable & constructive relationship.
Incumbent on us to address aspects related to the border, normalizing… pic.twitter.com/8zBRBoaKQE
Border Peace Fuels Trust
Highlighting the progress in reducing border tensions, Jaishankar explained that easing friction along the Line of Actual Control has helped restore some trust between the two countries. He stated, “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.” He added that both nations must now address other unresolved border issues, including de-escalation in certain areas.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumes
Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China, Jaishankar welcomed the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year break. He thanked China for its help in restarting the pilgrimage. At the same time, he pushed for stronger people-to-people connections and asked China to lift trade barriers affecting bilateral economic cooperation.
Mutual Respect Key to Stable Relations
Jaishankar said that stable relations between India and China benefit not only both countries but also the world. He stressed that these ties should be based on “mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.” He explained that regular meetings at global events have helped both sides maintain strategic dialogue and called for more such exchanges in each other’s countries.
Call for Cooperation Over Confrontation
Jaishankar ended the meeting by underlining India’s view that while disagreements between the two countries are natural, they must not turn into disputes. He insisted that cooperation should always be preferred over conflict, especially as the world faces major geopolitical changes. He said he looked forward to holding meaningful discussions with Wang Yi and working together for a more constructive future.