A Diplomatic Reset: Jaishankar Meets Xi Jinping After Galwan Tensions

In a significant step toward repairing strained ties between India and China, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This was their first high-level diplomatic engagement since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020 that brought bilateral relations to a historic low. The meeting took place against the backdrop of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Summit and signals a cautious yet hopeful revival of diplomatic communication between the two Asian giants.

S Jaishankar and China's Xi Jinping | India Today

Reconnecting After Years of Silence

Jaishankar’s visit marked a turning point after nearly five years of diplomatic frost. Since the Galwan incident, both nations had maintained communication at military and bureaucratic levels, but political-level engagements remained on hold. By meeting Xi Jinping, Jaishankar reopened a direct channel with the Chinese leadership, aiming to rebuild mutual trust. He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasized India’s interest in pursuing a stable and constructive relationship with China. The Chinese side acknowledged the positive intentions, expressing interest in advancing bilateral cooperation on realistic terms.

Focus on Peace, Trade, and Stability

A major part of the conversation centered around ensuring peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Jaishankar raised the need to complete disengagement in remaining friction points, particularly in Depsang and Demchok. He reiterated that normalcy in border areas remains the essential foundation for the broader India-China relationship. The resumption of direct flights between the two countries earlier this year, and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in April, were highlighted as positive developments demonstrating goodwill and cooperation.

Jaishankar also expressed concerns about Beijing’s recent curbs on the export of critical minerals to India, urging China to adopt a less restrictive trade approach. He emphasized that economic cooperation must be grounded in openness and reciprocity, especially in today’s globally interdependent economy. His Chinese counterparts, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng, responded with calls for continued “practical cooperation” and stressed the importance of respecting each other’s core concerns.

Strategic Messaging at the SCO Platform

Beyond bilateral meetings, Jaishankar used the SCO platform to send a strong message about regional security and responsible diplomacy. He cautioned that competition among nations must not evolve into conflict and instead be managed through dialogue, diplomacy, and balance. He reiterated India’s position that any power rivalry in Asia must not destabilize peace or enable acts of aggression.

Addressing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, Jaishankar called upon the SCO member states to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism. Without naming Pakistan directly, he highlighted how some nations continue to provide shelter and support to terror outfits, warning that those who aid such violence will ultimately pay a heavy price. His remarks were seen as both a warning and a plea for unity in confronting cross-border extremism.

China’s View: A Shift Toward Realism

Chinese state media described the Jaishankar-Xi meeting as a sign of potential change. The Global Times, often considered a reflection of the Chinese Communist Party’s tone, called the meeting a “dragon-elephant tango”—implying a future where India and China could cooperate in shaping a multipolar world order independent of Western influence, particularly that of the United States. Analysts noted that the meeting reflects Beijing’s growing recognition that confrontation with India harms regional stability and hinders China's long-term economic and geopolitical ambitions.

The Chinese leadership, while cautious, acknowledged the significance of this diplomatic outreach. They emphasized that both countries—despite historical differences—should aim to cooperate pragmatically, manage disputes peacefully, and seek common ground on regional issues, especially in multilateral forums like SCO and BRICS.

Conclusion: A Fragile but Promising Reset

The meeting between Jaishankar and Xi Jinping may not resolve all the deep-rooted tensions between the two countries, but it undoubtedly marks a thaw in a relationship frozen since 2020. It opens the door for further high-level engagement, with a potential meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi possibly on the horizon during upcoming summits. The path ahead will require sustained dialogue, strategic patience, and mutual respect.

India has made it clear that peace on the border is the foundation for any forward movement in bilateral ties. China, on its part, seems open to a reset, albeit on its terms. The months ahead will test whether both sides can transform this diplomatic gesture into a meaningful and lasting engagement. What began in Beijing this week may well determine the next chapter of India-China relations.

(Sources: NDTV, India Today, Hindustan Times)