New Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday and is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi later in the day.
Wang Yi’s visit, from August 18-19, comes at the invitation of NSA Doval and will include the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ (SR) Talks on the India-China boundary question. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that during the visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also hold a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi.
Wang Yi arrived in India on Monday and held discussions with EAM Jaishankar. China has assured India that it will address concerns related to rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines, news agency ANI reported quoting sources.
Earlier, Jaishankar noted that the talks would cover economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, people-to-people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity, and bilateral exchanges. He emphasised that differences should not escalate into disputes, and that Wang Yi’s visit offers a chance to review bilateral ties and discuss global issues of mutual interest.
The visit precedes Prime Minister Modi’s expected trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. India-China ties had deteriorated following Chinese military actions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, resulting in a standoff in April-May 2020.
Tensions eased with troop disengagement at some friction points and further progress was made ahead of the 2024 BRICS Summit, including agreements on LAC patrolling arrangements. In recent months, both sides have taken steps to improve ties, with India emphasising de-escalation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
