Jaishankar reminds China of SCO’s core mission to combat terrorism, calls for strengthening ties

In a pointed reminder ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that the grouping’s primary mandate remains the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

In his opening remarks during meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar  underscored the importance of maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

Opening remarks at my meeting with FM Wang Yi in Beijing.

https://t.co/Ypk5Tl3V9n

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

“Tomorrow, we will be meeting in the format of the SCO, whose primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld,” said Jaishankar.

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Congratulating China on assuming the SCO presidency, Jaishankar expressed India’s commitment to ensuring productive outcomes at the upcoming summit.

Turning to bilateral relations, the EAM noted that ties between India and China have shown signs of positive momentum since the leaders’ meeting in Kazan in October 2024.

“Our bilateral relationship requires that we take a far-seeing approach to our ties. Since our leaders’ meeting in Kazan in October 2024, the India-China relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction. Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum,” Jaishankar said.

He highlighted progress made in resolving border tensions as a foundation for improved strategic trust.

“We have made good progress in the past nine months for the normalisation of our bilateral relations. It is a result of the resolution of friction along the border and our ability to maintain peace and tranquility there. This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations,” said Jaishankar.

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“It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation, he added.

Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, the EAM acknowledged the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year pause, thanking China for its cooperation on the matter. He also called for the revival of people-to-people exchanges and urged the removal of trade restrictions that hinder bilateral economic cooperation.

“Stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only beneficial to us but also to the world," he said, adding, “This is best achieved through mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.”

Jaishankar said that frequent meetings at international forums have enabled strategic communication and called for such exchanges to become more regular, including in each other’s countries.

Concluding the meeting, he said he looked forward to a constructive and forward-looking dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, particularly in an era of global geopolitical shifts.

He reaffirmed India’s position that while differences may exist, they must not escalate into disputes, and that cooperation should always be prioritized over confrontation.

With inputs from agencies