Normalisation Of India-China Ties Can Produce Beneficial Outcomes: Jaishankar In Beijing

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday informed Chinese Vice President Han Zheng that the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is "widely appreciated in India" and extended New Delhi's support for Beijing's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Indian minister is on a two-day visit to China, his first visit since the Galwan clash in eastern Ladakh in 2020.

"India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Excellency, our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory." Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.

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

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, revered for its religious value, cultural significance, scenic beauty, and natural environment, is undertaken by several pilgrims annually. It holds religious importance for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, organized annually by the Government of India between June and September, takes place via two official routes: the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand (since 1981) and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim (since 2015). Following the COVID-19 and the military standoff between India and China, the Yatra had been suspended.

India had raised the resumption of the Yatra during its diplomatic talks with China.

During his meeting with Han Zheng, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of candid dialogue between India and China. He said, "The international situation, as we meet today, Excellency, is very complex. 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."

After the talks, Jaishankar shared on X, "Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today. Conveyed India's support for China's SCO Presidency. Noted the improvement in our bilateral ties. And expressed confidence that discussions during my visit will maintain that positive trajectory."

Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for a bilateral meeting on Monday.

Jaishankar and Wang Yi last met in February on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg, where both sides emphasized the need for "mutual trust and support." He will also attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin on July 15.

His visit follows that of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who travelled to China in June for SCO meetings.

Wang Yi is also expected to visit India next month to meet NSA Ajit Doval as part of the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism, which aims to address the longstanding boundary dispute.

The Galwan Valley standoff in 2020 was the most severe border clash in over four decades, leading to casualties on both sides and pushing relations to a historic low.

The revival of the SR dialogue and other engagement channels was reportedly agreed upon during a brief interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Kazan summit in Russia in October last year. Among the positive developments since then is the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after nearly five years.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in New Delhi on Sunday said that The succession of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is a "thorn" in China-India ties.

"In reality, [the] Xizang-related issue is a thorn in China-India relations and has become a burden for India," Yu Jing, a Chinese embassy spokesperson, posted on X, referring to "Xizang", the Chinese name for Tibet.