Subhechcha Ganguly 
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday urged India and China to establish a “correct strategic understanding” and regard one another as partners, not rivals. His remarks came after talks with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where the two leaders discussed border peace, trade, connectivity, river data sharing, and bilateral exchanges.
According to a Chinese readout, Wang said that exchanges and dialogue between the two countries were gradually being restored, and bilateral relations were returning to a cooperative track. He added that as two major nations, India and China should set an example for other developing countries to unite and strengthen themselves.
The meeting comes amid efforts to stabilise ties that had hit a six-decade low following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Wang, who arrived in Delhi for a two-day visit, is also scheduled to hold the 24th round of border talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ahead of the discussions, Jaishankar stressed that the future of ties required a “candid and constructive” approach, built on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest. “The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward,” he said.
Wang’s visit comes just days before Prime Minister Modi’s first trip to China in seven years, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, alongside leaders from Russia and Central Asia.
