India and China have signalled renewed efforts to stabilise and enhance their bilateral relationship. The focus is on restoring air connectivity, expanding people-to-people exchanges and addressing trade concerns.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met the visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong on Thursday. They reviewed developments in bilateral ties since their last meeting in January this year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Both sides agreed to give priority to people-centric initiatives as they work toward normalising relations. A highlight was the mutual commitment to expedite resumption of direct air services between India and China. Misri underscored the importance of concluding an updated Air Services Agreement at the earliest. He emphasised the broader objective of easing travel and connectivity between the two nations.
The MEA also confirmed that both countries will implement practical steps to facilitate visas and encourage exchanges between media professionals and think tanks — seen as critical to rebuilding trust and fostering dialogue.
Misri appreciated China’s cooperation in enabling resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year. He noted positive discussions held in April under the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers, particularly regarding sharing of hydrological data, hoping for further progress.
The two sides also discussed planned joint activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Trade and economic issues featured prominently in the dialogue, with both sides agreeing to resume functional-level discussions to address specific concerns. One such matter is the recent impact of China’s export controls on certain rare earth materials, which are critical to industries like automotive manufacturing in India.
In response to a question during the weekly briefing on Thursday regarding this issue, Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have been in touch with the Chinese side. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs in early April, had announced the decision to implement export controls on certain rare earth-related items.”
“We are in touch with the Chinese side, both here in Delhi, as also in Beijing, to bring predictability in supply chain for trade, consistent with international practices,” Jaiswal added.
The MEA noted that this week’s meeting underscores India’s efforts to maintain open lines of communication and pursue constructive dialogue with China, reflecting a shared interest in fostering a more stable and cooperative bilateral relationship.
