Wang Yi Meets Modi Ahead of SCO Summit in China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a two-day visit, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin later this month. Modi is scheduled to travel to China for the summit on August 31 and September 1, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. Wang Yi’s trip is being seen as a key step in setting the tone for high-level engagement between the two nations.
Key Meetings with Indian Leadership
During his stay, Wang Yi is holding a series of high-profile meetings. He will meet Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday evening at the PM’s residence. He is also scheduled to engage with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and participate in the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the India-China boundary question with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. These interactions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including border stability, trade cooperation, and regional security.
Focus Areas of the Dialogue
The discussions will likely address measures to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), confidence-building mechanisms, and efforts to resume smoother economic exchanges. Both sides are exploring options to restore direct flights, simplify investment rules, and expand people-to-people ties. The visit comes at a time when both India and China are signaling interest in recalibrating their relations amid shifting global dynamics and ongoing uncertainties in world politics.
Preparing for Modi’s China Visit
Wang Yi’s visit also plays a preparatory role for Modi’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Diplomatic observers suggest that India and China are trying to set the stage for dialogue at the leadership level, aiming to stabilize relations after years of tensions and clashes at the border. The meetings are expected to help create a framework for more structured cooperation in the coming months.
