Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Visit India on Aug 18–19, Talks with Jaishankar and Doval on Agenda
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to India for an official visit from August 18–19. The trip comes at the invitation of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and marks a significant step in the continuing efforts of New Delhi and Beijing to stabilize bilateral ties.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the visit. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong stated, “From August 18 to 20, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs and China’s Special Representative on the China-India boundary question Wang Yi will visit India.”
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Planned Meetings in New Delhi
During his visit, Yi will meet NSA Doval to conduct the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Talks on the longstanding India-China boundary dispute. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Backdrop: Thaw in India-China Relations
Relations between the two countries have shown signs of recovery over the past year. The turning point came in October, when the two sides agreed on new border patrolling protocols, putting an end to a tense five-year military standoff that had disrupted trade, investment, and cross-border mobility.
Since then, a series of steps have been taken to normalize ties: earlier this year, China reopened the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, while India resumed granting visas to Chinese nationals. Officials from both countries have also indicated that direct flights could resume in the coming weeks.
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Later this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit his first visit to the country since 2020. Modi’s last trip was overshadowed by border tensions, including the deadly Galwan Valley clash, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed, leading to one of the lowest points in bilateral relations in decades.
— With inputs from agencies