New Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit aimed at holding border talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. His visit comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Wang was received at Delhi airport by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) East Asia division. He is in India primarily to participate in the next round of the Special Representatives’ (SR) dialogue on the boundary question. Both Wang and Doval serve as designated representatives for these talks.
On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met his Chinese counterpart in New Delhi. During the meeting, Jaishankar emphasised that peace along the border is essential for any forward momentum in bilateral relations.
Wang’s visit is widely viewed as part of efforts to rebuild ties between the two neighbours after relations soured following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. According to sources, discussions are expected to include new confidence-building measures to ensure stability and tranquillity along the contested frontier.
The timing of the visit is also significant given rising friction in India-U.S. relations. Tensions have escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% and imposed an additional 25% penalty on India for its purchase of Russian crude oil.
Wang and NSA Doval are scheduled to resume the SR dialogue on the boundary question at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19. Later in the day, Wang is expected to call on Prime Minister Modi at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, at 5:30 p.m., the MEA confirmed.
