China and India: From Adversaries to Partners, Says Wang Yi

Wang Yi's visit marks a significant step towards mending Sino-Indian relations, with discussions aimed at fostering collaboration and resolving disputes.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a significant call for India and China to transition from viewing each other as “adversaries or threats” to becoming “partners.” His remarks come during a crucial two-day visit to New Delhi where he met with Indian counterpart S Jaishankar—only the second encounter since the violent clashes in Galwan Valley in 2020, which seriously strained bilateral relations. Yi noted that the relationship is trending positively towards cooperation ahead of discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Jaishankar echoed Yi’s sentiments, expressing the need to overcome challenges in their relationship. The ministers covered various topics, including trade, pilgrimage arrangements, and river data sharing. Yi has plans to confer with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval regarding ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving boundary disputes.

This visit is interpreted as a sign of easing tensions between the two nuclear-capable nations. Following an agreement to de-escalate border tensions established last October, China recently permitted Indian pilgrims to visit significant religious sites in Tibet, while India reinstated visa services for Chinese tourists and is looking to revitalize border trade through designated passageways. Furthermore, potential resumption of direct flights between the two countries could add to this thawing atmosphere.

These discussions pave the way for Modi's upcoming trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month, where bilateral conversations with President Xi Jinping may take place, although there’s been no official confirmation of such talks. The warming ties come at a time when India's relations with the U.S. have been deteriorating, particularly in light of the higher tariffs imposed on Indian imports by the Biden administration.

In a recent op-ed, White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro accused India of aligning too closely with Russia and China, suggesting the country is not acting as a reliable strategic partner for the U.S. Jaishankar concluded their meeting by emphasizing the importance of fostering a fair and balanced multipolar world order and the necessity of global stability.