External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that India-China relations are gradually moving in a positive direction following the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan.

Speaking during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar said, “Our bilateral relationship requires a far-seeing approach. Since our leaders’ meeting in Kazan, we’ve seen a steady improvement. Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum.”

He noted significant progress in normalizing ties over the past nine months, largely due to the resolution of border frictions and the maintenance of peace in the region. “This lays the foundation for mutual strategic trust,” he added, while stressing the need to now address remaining issues including de-escalation along the border.

This marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in May 2020. He is in Tianjin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Jaishankar congratulated China on its SCO Presidency and emphasized the value of recent strategic communications. He expressed hope for more frequent bilateral engagements and thanked China for resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra after five years.

Highlighting the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Jaishankar called for stable and constructive relations based on mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity. “Differences should not become disputes, and competition should not turn into conflict,” he stated.

The two leaders also discussed regional and global challenges. Jaishankar underlined India’s commitment to the SCO’s core mandate — combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism — and emphasized zero tolerance toward terrorism.