Jaishankar Meets Xi Jinping in First High-Level Contact Since 2020 Galwan Clash

Jaishankar Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, First Visit to China Since 2019.

Meeting takes place amid efforts to recalibrate India-China relations post-Galwan External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, marking the first high-level diplomatic interaction between the two nations since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

Jaishankar is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. During the courtesy call, he conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Chinese leader.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote:

“Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”

This is Jaishankar’s first visit to China since 2019. The meeting comes as both sides cautiously explore avenues to improve ties following the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh that began in 2020.