What Jaishankar said after he meets President Xi for the first time since Galwan clash

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first visit to China since bilateral ties soured in 2020. This high-level engagement marks a crucial moment for India-China relations, signaling a renewed effort to stabilize and improve the strained relationship that has been impacted by border tensions.

Jaishankar, who is currently visiting the neighboring country, shared a picture from the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), providing insights into the discussions. He conveyed greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the diplomatic protocol and the significance of the exchange.

In his tweet, Jaishankar stated, "Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard." This indicates that the meeting covered the current state of India-China relations and sought high-level guidance for their future trajectory, crucial for maintaining positive momentum.

The External Affairs Minister was not alone in this significant meeting; he was accompanied by his counterparts from other SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) member nations. This broader context underscores the multilateral framework within which this bilateral meeting took place, possibly touching upon regional cooperation and stability.

Jaishankar's visit to China is particularly noteworthy as it is his first to the country since the Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020, which severely escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The visit itself is a strong indicator of both nations' willingness to re-engage at a high diplomatic level.

Before he met with President Xi Jinping, Jaishankar also held discussions with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing. During that meeting, he emphasized the importance of dialogue between India and China, stating, "As neighboring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important. I look forward to such discussions during this visit."