India-China ties: After NSA Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to visit Beijing soon

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will visit China later this month to hold talks with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, The Economic Times reported.

Misri’s trip will focus on visas, restarting direct flights, and strengthening economic ties after a major breakthrough in border disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The trip is a follow-up of recent efforts to ease tensions between the two neighbors.

De-escalations at LAC after 2020 Galwan clashes

Recently, both nations have made significant strides toward de-escalating tensions along their disputed border in the Ladakh region. In October 2024, both nations agreed on a pact concerning military patrols along the LAC. This agreement initiated the disengagement of troops from key standoff points. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that the “process of disengagement” is “almost complete.”

Bilateral relations were strained after the clashes and ties were at their lowest. The deadly Galwan Valley incident and the prolonged military standoff at the border led to heightened tensions between New Delhi and Beijing.

Modi-Xi meet in Kazan

On the sidelines of Kazan Summit of BRICS nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi held bilateral talks. This was followed by discussions at the foreign minister and special representative levels.

NSA Doval’s trip to China

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met in Beijing in December last year to discuss the long-standing border dispute. They emphasised the need to maintain peace along the contested border and pledged to find fair and mutually agreeable solutions.

Trump’s return to White House

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has prompted China to seek closer ties with countries previously aligned with India, The Associated Press reported. This strategic shift aims to counterbalance the US’s unilateral approach and stabilise the Chinese economy and dominance.

China’s dialogues with India, Japan

China is engaging in dialogues with India, Japan, and other nations to enhance bilateral relations. A military delegation from the Eastern Command of the PLA visited Japan this month. It was the first visit of any Chinese delegation to Japan in 5 years.