India-China ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes: Jaishankar

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said normalisation of India-China ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes. Jaishankar, who is in China to attend foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday.

 

 Appreciating the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the external affairs minister said, "We have marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes."

 

Jaishankar said an open exchange of views between India and China was important, considering the "complex" global situation. The Union minister told the Chinese vice president, "Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory."

 

Jaishankar added that an open exchange of views between the neighbouring countries was important, and he is looking forward to such discussions during this visit.

This is external affairs minister's first visit to China after Galwan stand-off in 2020. The visit comes amid strained relations between the neighbouring nations following China's military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and the Tibet issue. China had aligned with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, China objected to India's position on the "reincarnation" of the Dalai Lama. 

 

During the SCO defence ministers' meeting, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh abstained from signing a joint statement as there was no mention of the Pahalgam terror attack in it. 

India