‘Respect each other’s concern’: As Jaishankar meets Han, China hails ‘Dragon-Elephant Dance’

As China and India continue to normalise their trade ties, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday. During his talks with Han, the EAM expressed India’s support for China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) presidency.

“Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today, and 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 wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

During his opening remarks at the diplomatic level talks, Jaishankar expressed confidence that the ongoing discussions will maintain a positive trajectory when it comes to ties between the two nations.

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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. pic.twitter.com/F8hXRHVyOE

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 14, 2025

“India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed out, 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 told Han at the meeting.

He mentioned that the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is widely appreciated in India. “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 normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” the EAM averred.

Jaishankar discusses complex international situation with Chinese VP

During the talks, Jaishankar emphasised that the current international situation remains complex, insisting on greater cooperation among neighbours. “The international situation, as we meet today, Excellency, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important,” said.

The EAM maintained that India is looking forward to more such visits and discussions. It is pertinent to note that Jaishankar made a touchdown in China after concluding his visit to Singapore. What makes the visit significant is the fact that this was his first visit to China in five years after New Delhi and China decided to disengage after years of a standoff at the border.

The Indian External Affairs Minister is also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for bilateral talks. The two diplomats last met in February on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

‘Dragon-Elephant Dance’ is the right path forward

During the talks, the Chinese vice president maintained that in October last year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a successful meeting in Kazan, guiding the restart and advancement of China-India relations.

He emphasised that both sides should further implement the important consensus reached by the leaders and promote practical cooperation for sustained and healthy development.

Jaishankar noted that following the Kazan meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi, India-China relations have steadily improved. India is willing to follow the leaders’ consensus, maintain the momentum of bilateral relations, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms.