Rajnath Singh meets Chinese counterpart, highlights urgency to avoid further complications in relations
by Utsav RoyOn Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, where he emphasized the importance of preventing “new complexities” in the evolving relationship between India and China. Singh underlined the need for both nations to maintain a constructive and forward-looking approach in their diplomatic and strategic engagements.
Describing the interaction as productive, Singh noted that both sides engaged in a meaningful exchange on matters concerning bilateral ties. In a social media post, he stated, “It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship.”
Singh is currently in Qingdao, a prominent Chinese port city, to attend a meeting of defence ministers under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Upon his arrival on Thursday, he was welcomed by Admiral Dong Jun. During their official interaction on Friday, Singh gifted the Chinese minister a traditional Madhubani painting, a well-known folk art from Bihar’s Mithila region.
Despite past tensions, relations between New Delhi and Beijing have shown signs of improvement. A notable milestone in this process was achieved in 2024 when both countries finalized the disengagement of their military forces from the Depsang and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh, a region previously marked by border disputes.
Further progress was seen when India announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to the Tibet Autonomous Region, which had been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Singh expressed happiness over the reinitiation of this pilgrimage following his meeting with Dong Jun. The spiritual journey will recommence on June 30 this year. The first batch of pilgrims is scheduled to enter China through the Lipulekh Pass on July 10, while the final group is expected to return to India on August 22.
In a related development, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on June 23. During this interaction, Doval stressed the importance of enhancing the overall trajectory of India-China relations, with a particular focus on fostering deeper people-to-people engagement and mutual cooperation across various sectors.
These recent developments suggest a cautious yet deliberate effort on both sides to rebuild trust and strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties, aiming to move beyond past conflicts toward a more stable and cooperative future.