Latest news with #CouncilofForeignMinisters
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
India-China ties changing: 4 signs, 1 challenge
After a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 border standoff, India and China are burying the hatchet, driven by mutual interest and global pressures read more Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting in informal setup in 2019 India and China, two of Asia's giants, have been navigating a complex relationship since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash. However, recent developments signal a cautious warming of ties, driven by mutual interest and global pressures, though challenges remain. Here are four indicators of improving relations and one significant hurdle that persists. 1) India resumes tourist visas for Chinese nationals After a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 border standoff, India has reinstated tourist visas for Chinese citizens, a move aimed at mending strained ties. The announcement, shared by the Indian embassy in Beijing, was reported by China's state-owned Global Times. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called it a 'positive move,' expressing China's willingness to enhance 'facilitation of people-to-people exchanges.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The visa suspension, along with restrictions on Chinese investments and apps, followed the 2020 clash that resulted in casualties on both sides. 2) Jaishankar's landmark visit to China External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to China from July 13-15 marked a significant diplomatic milestone, the first such trip since the 2020 standoff. Meeting President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Vice President Han Zheng before attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Council of Foreign Ministers, Jaishankar noted that both nations have made 'good progress' in normalising relations over the past nine months. He emphasised that maintaining peace along the border is the 'fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust' and called for further de-escalation. 3) China issues 85,000 visas for Indian pilgrims In a reciprocal gesture, China issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in 2025, particularly for those visiting sacred sites like Mansarovar. Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong announced on X, 'As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens travelling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.' This surge in visas, following troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, further signals the strengthening of people-to-people ties. 4) Push for direct flight resumption Both nations have agreed to restore direct flights and mutual travel, suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent border clash. India's Ministry of External Affairs stated, 'The two sides agreed to take additional practical steps, including travel to each other's country and direct flight connectivity, for facilitating people-to-people exchanges.' While China's foreign ministry statement omitted mention of flights, the agreement reflects a shared interest in easing travel barriers between the world's most populous neighbours. The challenge: Reluctance to share technology Despite these positive steps, a key obstacle remains: Chinese companies' reluctance to share technology and data, the same attitude shown by their Western counterparts. This poses a significant challenge to deeper economic collaboration, testing India's diplomatic finesse. As both nations navigate this issue, India's scepticism about China's intentions, given its history as a hostile, irresponsible and unpredictable neighbour, underscores the need for careful engagement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump factor- a peace initiative he never takes credit for US President Donald Trump is often visibly eager to claim credit for peace initiatives across the globe in a bid to reinforce his nomination for Nobel Peace Prize. However, the ongoing reconciliation between the two Asian neighbours is something Trump never would brag about. It's Trump's unpredictable policies that have forced Beijing and New Delhi to step closer despite their shared concerns. Recently, China's open support to Pakistan in the four-day standoff with India angered many in New Delhi. However, that frustration didn't culminate in a setback for Sino-Indo ties. India is selectively engaging with Chinese firms while diversifying its economic resources, balancing cooperation with strategic caution.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Jaishankar in China: A cooperative Beijing is desirable, but a less uncooperative one is India's best bet
Written by Udayan Das For the first time in five years, since the 2020 standoff along the Line of Actual Control, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to China and met President Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng, before heading off to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meet. The meeting is consistent with the steps taken by New Delhi and Beijing since late last year to restore some normalcy to bilateral ties. This started with the Modi-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, followed by a flurry of high-level meetings, including trips to China by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in December 2024 and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in June 2025. Evidently, we are witnessing the renegotiation of a new order on partly new foundations. The earlier order was facilitated through the Border Peace and Tranquillity Agreement in 1993, which agreed to incrementally resolve the boundary question through the maintenance of peace and status quo on the borders. As the treaty brought India and China to the table, it built a modicum of trust and transparency that allowed other avenues like trade to develop. This order, however, was broken with the skirmishes in Galwan five years ago. Compared to the presence of a bulwark of institutional commitments and operational trade, the new order possesses an unpredictability of conflict and weaponisation of trade. The road to a new arrangement, like most diplomatic formulations, would not be easy, quick or foolproof. The visit is one of the many steps necessary to create a positive foundation. The meeting indicates India's strategy of simultaneously cooperating and competing with China. There has always been a consensus that New Delhi and Beijing need not agree and cooperate on every issue. The optimal outcome for India would be to cooperate with China wherever possible and evade conflict entirely. Therefore, a sub-optimal outcome is more plausible for India, where they initiate piecemeal cooperation on immediate issues and simultaneously develop instruments that would restrict the chances of conflict. This would also allow both parties to find passages to de-escalate, in case a conflict breaks out. New Delhi has taken this route, evident from Jaishankar stating to his Chinese counterpart that the emerging foundation should be on the principle that 'differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict'. There is a clear division of impending issues that need to be resolved rather quickly, while the rest are put on a slow burner. For India, there is a third kind as well: Issues that have a bearing on the relations but are extremely difficult to resolve, and as a result, remain undiscussed. The border question, in this context, remains the most significant and vexed. It is likely to be put aside for a while, again, as there are no immediate resolutions in sight. For India, the answer remains elusive to the question: How do you deal with a militarily superior power in a border conflict? India has initiated internal strengthening, but that is not going to provide results overnight. External intervention remains unreliable as this is strictly a bilateral issue where third parties would not invest or engage without interests. The plausible ways are to simultaneously keep closing the gap and engage with the rival via diplomatic mechanisms. As disengagement is underway at crucial junctures of Eastern Ladakh, the onus is now to arrange a modus vivendi. The issues that can be resolved quickly are in the domain of trade. China's curbs on exporting rare earth magnets are hurting India's automobile sector badly. The Indian government has rightly initiated incentives for home-grown solutions, but developing an alternative supply chain would take time and not immediately compensate for the Chinese withdrawals. EAM Jaishankar specifically brought up the issue of 'restrictive trade measures and roadblocks' that need to be discussed ahead. Finally, there are issues that are undiscussed, like the case of the China-Pakistan relationship and the issue of the Dalai Lama's succession. India's consistent stand on terrorism is commendable, but that is unlikely to have any effect on Beijing's relations with Islamabad. Irrespective of India's symbolic measures, influence or pressure, China and Pakistan would continue to work according to their realist calculations. It is unlikely that India would bring up the Dalai Lama in official discussions. While China has asserted its role in choosing the successor, India has stated that this remains an issue of cultural conventions and not the state. Despite this, China continues to be irked by the Dalai Lama being housed in Dharamsala, acknowledged as a spiritual leader by many in India. In the months to come, India and China are likely to engage further in the making of this new bilateral order. It will not be easy for New Delhi: It has to hold its ground on many issues, continuously strengthen itself internally, and find ways to engage with Beijing for mutual goals. A cooperative China is desirable, but a less uncooperative one is India's best bet to preserve its core interests. The writer teaches at the Department of Political Science, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and is a Visiting Fellow with Asian Confluence, Shillong
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Dar rejects 'normalisation of arbitrary force'
Foreign ministers of the SCO member states pose for a group photograph during the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, China. Photo: AFP Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional stability, multilateral cooperation, and peaceful dispute resolution during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday. Speaking at the high-level gathering, Dar emphasised the SCO's role as a stabilising force in a world facing profound geopolitical challenges. He praised China's leadership in advancing the organisation's agenda and welcomed Belarus as the newest full member. Dar strongly criticised Israel's military actions in Gaza, labeling them a "reckless disregard for international norms" that has led to a dire humanitarian crisis. He urged an immediate ceasefire and reiterated Pakistan's support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital. The foreign minister also denounced recent attacks on Iran, including US strikes on nuclear facilities, calling such actions against SCO member states "unacceptable". Dar expressed concern over recent escalations in South Asia, referencing the Pahalgam attack allegations that brought Pakistan and a neighboring nuclear-armed state to the brink of conflict. He stressed that disputes must be resolved through dialogue, not coercion, and called for structured talks to address long-standing issues. "Pakistan remains committed to ceasefire agreements and regional stability, but we cannot accept the normalisation of arbitrary force," he stated. Dar advocated for institutional reforms within the SCO, including the adoption of English as a third official language and enhanced Secretariat capabilities. He also highlighted the need for economic collaboration, proposing greater use of national currencies to mitigate global financial shocks and backing the creation of an alternative development funding mechanism. He also underscored the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project, as vital for regional connectivity and shared prosperity. The deputy prime minister called for renewed engagement with Afghanistan through the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group and emphasized a unified approach to counterterrorism, rejecting its use for political gains. He also flagged climate change as a critical challenge requiring collective action. In closing, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's dedication to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust and cooperation, urging member states to pursue a future "defined not by confrontation, but by collaboration." FMs meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan on Tuesday during a joint call of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states with Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Xi, in his address to the visiting foreign ministers, underscored the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework - a body spanning the Eurasian landmass and representing a significant portion of the global population. On the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. DPM/FM Ishaq Dar on Tuesday met Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO CFM in Tianjin, China. During the meeting, both the dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and defence, a DPM's Office news release said. On the occasion, the DPM/FM reiterated the invitation for FM Lavrov to visit Pakistan. In a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic at the Great Hall in Tianjin, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the longstanding Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relationship and expressed interest in expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest. Separately, DPM Dar met Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. The two leaders reiterated their resolve to deepen bilateral ties and enhance collaboration in regional and multilateral fora. Dar also held meetings with the foreign ministers of other SCO member states on the sidelines of the joint call with President Xi. "Valuable opportunity to exchange views and reinforce regional cooperation during these challenging times," he posted on X following his meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FM Dar meets Chinese President Xi in Beijing
Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and conveyed him the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. 'As iron-clad brothers and all-weather strategic cooperative partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals,' Dar wrote in a post on X. The meeting between the foreign minister and Chinese president was held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dar also represented Pakistan at the joint call of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States on President Xi. The Chinese president, welcoming the heads of delegations, underlined the salience of regional cooperation under the ambit of SCO, an organisation covering the Eurasian land mass and a large expanse of the world's population, Radio Pakistan reported. Photo: Facebook/ @foreignofficepk Senator Dar arrived in Beijing, China, on Monday to attend a three-day meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers being held in Tianjin, China. He is attending the event at the invitation of Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi. He was received at the airport by Ambassador Ms Yu Hong, Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People's Republic of China and Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil ur Rehman Hashmi, and senior officials from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his official visit, DPM/FM will lead Pakistan's delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday. He will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states. Photo: Facebook/@foreignofficepk Foreign ministers of all SCO member states, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will participate in the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. The foreign minister of Belarus will attend the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting for the first time as member of SCO. The Council of Foreign Ministers is the third highest forum in the SCO format. Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he met Chinese President Xi as part of the delegation of foreign ministers attending the meeting of the SCO. 'Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties,' Jaishankar wrote in a post on X, sharing a picture of him shaking hands with Xi.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Lavrov meets Xi in Beijing ahead of Putin's visit
MOSCOW: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, Moscow said, as the top Russian diplomat visited for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting. Xi received Lavrov in the Chinese capital "as part of his participation in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)", Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. "A number of issues of bilateral political contacts at the highest and high levels were discussed," including preparations for Russian leader Vladimir Putin's visit to China to join a SCO summit and World War II anniversary celebrations. Russia's TASS news agency reported that Xi met Lavrov after the Chinese president held a "general meeting" with SCO foreign ministers. Lavrov met Sunday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss Ukraine and relations with the United States. The Russian foreign minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine. Beijing, a diplomatic and economic ally of Moscow, claims to be neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But China has never denounced Russia's more than three-year military campaign nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine's allies believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow. China regularly calls for an end to the fighting, while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine. Beijing has long sought to present the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs such as Nato, and has pushed to strengthen collaboration between its member countries in politics, security, trade and science.--AFP
