India-China ties: PM Modi meets foreign minister Wang Yi in Delhi – How tariff, border tensions made elephant, dragon tango again | India News
Wang Yi and PM Modi (R)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi, as India continues efforts to ease tensions in ties with China.The meeting took place against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s recent move to impose tariffs, including a 50 per cent tariff on India.Renowned for his claims of mediating peace between rival nations, Trump may have inadvertently set the stage for an unexpected thaw in India-China ties.Despite Beijing’s backing of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack, the recent easing of strains between New Delhi and Beijing is seen, in part, as a fallout of Trump’s actions, though he has taken no credit.According to the ministry of external affairs (MEA), Wang Yi is in India at the invitation of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to take part in the 24th round of Special Representatives’ (SR) Talks on the India-China boundary issue. During his two-day visit, Wang Yi also held bilateral discussions with external affairs minister Jaishankar.“Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Foreign Minister HE Mr Wang Yi will visit India on 18-19 August 2025. During his visit, he will hold the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Talks on the India-China boundary question with NSA Shri Doval. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar will also hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Wang Yi,” the MEA said in a statement.Sources indicated that China has promised to address three of India’s concerns – rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel-boring machines. On Monday, Jaishankar highlighted that the discussions would also cover “economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, people-to-people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity and bilateral exchanges.”During his public remarks, Jaishankar underlined that “differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict,” adding that the visit offered both sides an opportunity to review bilateral ties and exchange views on global and regional developments.Wang Yi’s visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s expected trip to Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1.
