During his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval emphasised the significance of counterterrorism cooperation in preserving regional peace and stability. Although it did not specifically name any nation, the message was generally interpreted as a diplomatic prod for China to use its clout with Pakistan to curb terrorist operations from its territory.
Both parties also discussed recent advancements in India-China bilateral ties and emphasised the significance of strengthening overall diplomatic engagement, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In order to promote better understanding and collaboration between the two neighbouring countries, this included an emphasis on improving people-to-people interactions.
In recent months, there has been "positive progress" in the relationship between China and India, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He emphasised the importance of ongoing goodwill, cooperation, and respect for one another while highlighting the historical connections and depth of civilisation shared by the two nations. “China and India should adhere to the direction of good neighbourliness and friendship, strive for mutually beneficial outcomes, and demonstrate the historical wisdom of two ancient civilisations,” Wang said, as quoted by China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong.
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Echoing this sentiment, Ambassador Xu tweeted: “Only when the dragon and the elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome. China and India should properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border regions.”
NSA Doval, in response, reiterated India’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in multilateral platforms. He expressed New Delhi’s full support for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and its efforts to host a successful summit. “As two major Asian nations, India and China can make even greater contributions to the international community,” Xu tweeted, quoting Doval.
The MEA also stated that NSA Doval expressed a persistent desire to maintain the diplomatic momentum by welcoming Wang Yi to India for the 24th round of Special Representative (SR) talks at a time that was convenient for both parties.
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Doval is presently in China for a high-level SCO security summit that includes senior national security officials from the group's member nations. Despite recent tensions, the SCO has been an important forum for strategic dialogue between China and India because of its primary focus on counterterrorism and regional security.
In the larger attempt to stabilise and normalise India-China relations after the border standoff that started in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, his visit is seen as a crucial step. After years of tense relations, it represents another phase in the ongoing diplomatic thaw and trust-building process between the two countries. Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 people were killed in an attack by terrorists supported by Pakistan, also coincides with the country's renewed focus on terrorism during the Doval-Wang dialogue.
The conclave is being hosted by China, which is currently the SCO's chair. Rajnath Singh, India's defence minister, is also anticipated to attend the SCO summit's ministerial portion in Qingdao, which takes place from June 25 to 27. Following the October 2024 agreement to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), bilateral ties started to improve, and this would be the first high-level ministerial meeting between the two nations.
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