In what could mark a pivotal step toward mending strained relations, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is expected to visit China around July 13 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ conclave, sources familiar with the matter confirmed on Friday. This will be his first visit to China since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
The trip, coming amid a cautious thaw in India-China relations, signals renewed diplomatic engagement at the highest levels following years of friction after the deadly Galwan clash in June 2020.
Diplomatic Reset in Progress
Before heading to Tianjin, where the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting will be held on July 14–15, Jaishankar is also expected to stop in Beijing for bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This meeting, if confirmed, would be a major indicator of the two Asian powers’ willingness to reopen diplomatic channels beyond multilateral forums.
A potential return visit by Wang Yi to India later this month is also on the cards, sources suggest. The Chinese foreign minister may hold discussions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval under the Special Representatives (SR) framework to address the long-standing boundary dispute.
This framework, which had gone largely dormant since the Galwan incident, was revived in December 2023 when Doval visited Beijing for SR-level talks. He returned again last month to attend an SCO meeting of top security officials — a gesture seen as part of the ongoing détente.
Timeline of Recent Engagements
The current diplomatic revival can be traced back to October 23, 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazan, Russia. Just two days before that meeting, India and China had reached a disengagement agreement for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh. This step effectively marked the end of the prolonged military standoff that began in May 2020.
In a continuation of these improving ties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently visited Qingdao, China, for the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting — the first such high-level military engagement in years.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumes
Another symbolic milestone in the rapprochement came last month when the two sides resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended for nearly five years. The reopening of this sacred pilgrimage route, popular among Indian devotees, is being viewed as a sign of softening diplomatic postures.
Why It Matters
The significance of Jaishankar’s upcoming China visit lies not only in the SCO agenda but also in the bilateral reset it represents. Since 2020, India-China relations have been dominated by border tensions, military build-up, and mutual distrust. While both sides have maintained channels of communication through Corps Commander-level talks, political engagements have remained limited.
Now, with the return of structured dialogue mechanisms and a series of reciprocal high-level visits, there appears to be a conscious effort to turn the page.
Experts suggest the SCO meetings serve as a safe platform for bilateral diplomacy, enabling countries like India and China to engage without direct confrontation, while still addressing critical issues behind closed doors.
The Road Ahead
Despite the forward momentum, trust remains fragile. Both nations continue to maintain a heavy military presence along the LAC, and border management remains a delicate issue. However, if Jaishankar and Wang Yi manage to rebuild mutual confidence during the visit, it could pave the way for larger breakthroughs in the months to come.
With China currently holding the SCO presidency, all eyes are on how effectively it can use its role to stabilize regional geopolitics — and whether the India-China thaw will gain traction beyond symbolic gestures.
