What Did EAM Jaishankar Discuss With SCO Chief in Beijing?

Beijing, July 14 (NationPress): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged with the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Nurlan Yermekbayev, in Beijing on Monday. Their discussions centered around the increasing significance of the SCO and the ongoing initiatives aimed at modernizing its operations.

Jaishankar's visit to China lasts three days as he participates in the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of SCO member nations taking place in Tianjin.

Post-meeting, the EAM expressed on social media, "Pleased to meet SCO SG Nurlan Yermekbayev in Beijing today. We discussed the significance and contributions of the SCO, along with its modernization efforts."

This diplomatic interaction precedes the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the SCO, which is set to occur in Tianjin later this year. India assumed the SCO Presidency in 2023, with Pakistan scheduled to host the Leaders' Summit in 2024.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation acts as a permanent intergovernmental body that includes India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus, aiming to enhance regional cooperation across political, economic, and security domains.

Jaishankar's trip also follows significant Indian participation in SCO-related events, such as visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to China in June for defence and security discussions.

Earlier in the day, the EAM had a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing, where he emphasized that the ongoing normalization of relations between India and China could lead to "mutually beneficial" results.

He highlighted the necessity of open dialogue and the exchange of viewpoints as crucial for the two neighboring economic powers.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar stated, "Our bilateral relationship, as noted, has been consistently improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am optimistic that my discussions during this visit will uphold that positive trend."

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations, Jaishankar underscored a significant achievement: the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been halted for five years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions.

"The revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is greatly valued in India. The ongoing normalization of our relations can yield mutually beneficial outcomes," he remarked.

Addressing the current global landscape, Jaishankar noted, "The international environment we encounter today is quite intricate. As neighboring nations and significant economies, an open exchange of ideas and perspectives between India and China is critically important."

This marks EAM Jaishankar's first visit to China since the tragic Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which notably strained bilateral relations. Although he has engaged with his Chinese counterpart at multilateral gatherings since then, this visit signifies a significant escalation in high-level diplomatic interactions amidst ongoing border issues.