Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India on August 18 for the 24th round of border negotiations with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, according to PTI. Both are designated special representatives for resolving the long-standing border dispute, a key source of tension since the 1962 war.
The visit comes just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31 – his first since the 2020 Ladakh clashes. The meeting follows a June dialogue in Beijing, where Wang said bilateral ties had made “positive progress.”
Tensions between the two Asian powers have eased slightly in recent months, aided by military disengagement in Ladakh’s Depsang and Demchok areas. Efforts to normalize relations have included discussions on resuming border trade after more than five years, restarting direct passenger flights, and restoring pilgrimages to sites under Chinese control.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar recently stated that India is seeking “a more predictable and positive course” for the relationship, focusing on expanded connectivity, exchanges, and cooperation.
Wang’s trip also comes against the backdrop of heightened U.S. trade tensions with both Beijing and New Delhi. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty linked to Russian oil and arms purchases, while also escalating duties on Chinese imports.
In March, Wang urged India and China to “take the lead in opposing hegemonism and power politics,” stressing that “making the dragon and elephant dance is the only right choice.”
With Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to hold bilateral talks during the SCO summit, next week’s meeting between Wang and Doval could mark a decisive step toward a more stable and cooperative India-China relationship.
