New Delhi : Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in India on Monday, August 18, for a two-day visit to hold crucial border talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Saturday. The visit comes just days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
The primary purpose of Wang’s visit is to attend the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ (SR) dialogue on the long-standing India-China boundary dispute. Both Wang and Doval are the designated special representatives from their respective countries for this sensitive dialogue mechanism.
“At the invitation of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India on August 18 and 19,” the MEA said in a statement.
“During his visit, he will hold the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ talks on the India-China boundary question with India’s SR, NSA Doval,” the statement added.
Bilateral Talks with Jaishankar Also Planned
During his stay, Wang will also hold bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues — from bilateral trade and tourism to resumption of direct flights and visa policies.
This visit marks another step in the efforts by both countries to stabilize ties that have been strained since the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020, in which soldiers from both sides lost their lives during a violent military face-off in eastern Ladakh.
Modi’s China Visit: SCO Summit in Tianjin
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Tianjin, China, on August 31 and September 1 to attend the SCO summit. Prior to that, he will travel to Japan on August 29, and is expected to fly directly to China after completing his engagements there.
The timing of Wang Yi’s visit is significant, as it serves to set the stage for high-level diplomacy between the two Asian giants during the upcoming SCO summit.
Recent Progress in India-China Relations
Following prolonged tensions since 2020, both sides agreed to disengage from the last two friction points — Demchok and Depsang — under a military pact finalized on October 21, 2024. Just two days later, on October 23, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, where they agreed to revive multiple dialogue mechanisms between their countries.
Since then, both nations have taken steps to normalize ties, including restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and resuming tourist visas for Chinese nationals. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the resumption of direct flight services between India and China.
High-Level Engagements in Recent Months
In the lead-up to the SCO summit, both Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have visited China in the last two months for SCO-related meetings. China currently holds the chairmanship of the SCO.
Key Takeaways:
Wang Yi’s visit aims to advance border talks and reduce friction ahead of PM Modi’s China visit.
The 24th SR dialogue may prove crucial in sustaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
India-China relations, once at a low point post-Galwan, are showing signs of gradual normalization.
The upcoming SCO summit in Tianjin could serve as a platform for further breakthroughs in bilateral ties.
