As the US and China move towards a trade war resolution, India is intensifying its own efforts to normalise relations with Beijing. Recent high-level discussions between India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri and visiting Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong, have yielded significant progress on several fronts.
The two nations have agreed to expedite the resumption of direct air services, with Misri expressing hope for an updated air services agreement soon. Furthermore, both sides committed to holding functional dialogues to address specific concerns, particularly in trade and economy. This marks their second engagement this year, following a meeting in Beijing in January where steps to normalise relations were also discussed. India and China affirmed their commitment to stabilising and rebuilding ties, with a focus on people-centric engagements, including practical steps for visa facilitation and exchanges between media and think tanks.
According to Beijing, India reiterated support for China's ongoing presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Both nations also agreed to prepare for the 24th meeting of the Special Representatives (SR) on the India-China Boundary Question, to be hosted in India. These SR talks resumed last December after a five-year hiatus, with NSA Ajit Doval visiting China. His counterpart, Wang Yi, is expected in India for the next round.
Beijing is keen for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin this year, which would also see the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif. India has not yet confirmed Modi's participation, likely awaiting outcomes from the forthcoming SR meeting and the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting. Misri also acknowledged China's support for the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this month and sought progress on trans-border river cooperation, including hydrological data sharing. India has previously raised concerns regarding China's construction of a large hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River. India aims to resolve trade and economic issues, such as China’s export controls on rare earth items, to foster long-term policy transparency.
