Wang Yi’s Trip to India
Chinese readouts signal a cautious thaw—can the momentum endure?
Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi pays a visit to India between Aug.18 and 20th. The symbolism is clear: Beijing and New Delhi are reopening channels of dialogue after a prolonged chill. Crucially, it follows the 2024 meeting between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, the first tentative thaw after years of strain. In this sense, Wang’s trip is more than a courtesy call; it is a test of whether the momentum toward stabilization can be sustained. If it yields concrete steps—such as institutionalized dialogue mechanisms or border risk-reduction measures—it could help prevent inadvertent escalation in a persistently mistrustful relationship since 2020.
Substantively, Beijing has already eased restrictions on exports of fertilizers, rare earths, and tunnel-boring machines to India—a friendly move addressing immediate supply-chain bottlenecks for Indian industry and infrastructure. This sunk-cost signal suggests that Wang’s visit is not merely symbolic but carries tangible economic implications that aim to reassure India of China’s commitment.
What are the main objectives?
Wang met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who together shape both the diplomatic and security dimensions of India’s China policy.
With Jaishankar, China’s agenda is pragmatic: restoring direct flights, reopening border trading posts, resuming Indian pilgrimages to Tibet, and rolling back trade restrictions. These are confidence-building measures meant to normalize interaction. Strategically, Beijing seeks reassurance that India will not align too closely with Washington in the U.S.–China rivalry, nor exploit border tensions as leverage. India’s official line—Jaishankar’s “three mutuals” (mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest)—suggests that New Delhi, too, is looking for a calibrated reset.
Jaishankar emphasized India’s own priorities: trade and economic issues, people-to-people contacts, border trade, river data sharing, and connectivity. The hydrological dimension is particularly noteworthy—China’s willingness to provide more data on the Yarlung Zangbo and its hydropower projects signals a gesture of transparency aimed at easing Indian anxieties.
With Doval, the focus shifts to the boundary issue. Wang’s remarks—that both sides should pursue a “dual-track, mutually reinforcing, and virtuous-cycle approach” to improve ties while managing borders—indicate a readiness to discuss practical issues of border management and even delimitation. The rhetorical shift suggests that Beijing and New Delhi are inching closer to the bargaining table.
To what extent is the warming driven by U.S.–India frictions over tariffs and Russian oil? Is it sustainable?
Geopolitical calculations are clearly at play. Two developments stand out: NSA Doval’s recent visit to Moscow, which paved the way for a Putin visit later this year; and India’s cancellation of a U.S. defense ministerial visit after Washington imposed new tariffs on Indian exports. Both signal that India is recalibrating its balancing strategy.
For New Delhi, engaging Beijing is partly about leverage. By warming ties with China and deepening its partnership with Russia, India reminds Washington that it has strategic alternatives. This enhances its bargaining power in trade talks and in broader geopolitical negotiations with Trump. Some American commentators have begun questioning India’s reliability and value as a U.S. partner. The durability of this China–India thaw, however, will hinge on whether U.S.–India relations and tariff negotiations stabilize or continue to fray.
Zhang Sheng, a long-term South Asia observer, suggests Beijing should not be overly optimistic about resuming ties with India. In our discussion, he offers a vivid analogy
when a proud woman quarrels with her suitor, she may flirt with another—not out of genuine interest but to pressure the original suitor and improve her bargaining position. If the second suitor doesn’t want to be used as leverage, he shouldn’t mistake the signals for commitment.
According to the official readout, the Indian side repeatedly emphasized that last October’s Xi–Modi meeting in Kazan was a turning point in improving and developing bilateral relations. Zhang believes this is more like India using a face-saving narrative, intended to dissociate the improvement in China–India ties from the recent deterioration in India–U.S. relations.
Reopening trading posts, restoring direct flights, easing visas—how important are these?
They are critical. Flights and visas are the backbone of trade and investment. A real example, when a Chinese company wanted to acquire a mine in India last year, its managers and engineers could not obtain business visas to conduct due diligence. Acquisitions can rarely be made by mainland or Hong Kong SAR companies, and sometimes even Singaporean and Chinese workers cannot get work visas unless invited by firms registered under India’s PLI scheme. These obstacles have effectively frozen many business and investment activities. Reopening these channels would send a powerful signal of normalization.
Modi’s expected China trip for the SCO summit—how does it fit?
It’s a milestone. Modi’s presence in China after seven years suggests relations are emerging from their post-2020 nadir. While the visit is tied to a multilateral forum, it carries strong bilateral symbolism. It shows both sides are willing to compartmentalize disputes and explore areas of convergence—regional stability, economic connectivity, and multilateral governance. Diplomatically, the freeze is giving way to a cautious thaw. The likely outcome is partial normalization toward pre-2020 patterns, not a full reset.
Are China and India competing to lead the “Global South,” or can they find common cause?
Some Western voices say it’s time to retire the term “Global South”. they think it has outlived its usefulness. But both India and China would disagree, who frame themselves as champions of multipolarity and non-Western agency in world affairs, although China and India have slightly different conceptualizations and perceptions of the “Global South.” India emphasizes that the Global South is “non-West, not anti-West,” China stresses South–South solidarity as an antidote to “unilateral bullying.”
The “competition” reflects India’s two major concerns. First, how do the West perceive the Global South if China takes a leading role? Hence, New Delhi frames the Global South as “non-West, not anti-West.” Second, whether the leadership of the “Global South” is zero-sum. Probably not. For India, the concern is by and large reputational—whether the West would perceive a China-led Global South as confrontational. For China, the emphasis is on partnership: Wang Yi underscored that the two neighbors should “regard each other as partners, not rivals,” and provide “certainty and stability” for Asia. Jaishankar, too, affirmed that India and China both support “a fair and balanced multipolar world order.” If the border issue can be stabilized, the two may well find common cause in shaping a multipolar order rather than competing for primacy.
If the border dispute is managed, which area holds the greatest cooperative potential?
Trade—without question. India is a vast market, and many Chinese investors would not have withdrawn absent political tensions and nationalist headwinds. Lifting barriers and restrictions would ease India’s industrial bottlenecks while expanding markets for Chinese firms. The economic upside is substantial if the security climate improves.
Below are the Chinese readouts of Wang Yi’s meeting with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Doval, and Modi, as well as the 10 consensuses reached between the two Foreign Ministers.
Wang Yi Holds Talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
On August 18, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi.
Wang Yi stated that in today's world, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace, unilateralism and bullying acts are rampant, and free trade and the international order face severe challenges. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, humanity has reached a critical crossroads in determining the direction of the future. As the two largest developing countries with a combined population of more than 2.8 billion, China and India should demonstrate a sense of global responsibility, act as major countries, set an example for developing countries in pursuit of strength through unity, and contribute to advancing a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.
Wang Yi said that the successful meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan has provided guidance for the resumption and a new start for China-India relations. Both sides have been earnestly implementing the common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, gradually resuming exchanges and dialogues at various levels, maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas, and enabling Indian pilgrims to resume their pilgrimages to the sacred mountains and lakes in China's Xizang. China-India relations are showing a positive trend toward returning to the main course of cooperation. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. Both sides should earnestly draw lessons from the past 75 years, form a correct strategic perception, view each other as partners and opportunities rather than rivals or threats, invest their valuable resources in development and revitalization, and explore right ways for neighboring major countries to get along with each other, which are characterized by mutual respect and trust, peaceful coexistence, pursuit of common development, and win-win cooperation.
Wang Yi emphasized that China is ready to uphold the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and the vision of a shared future, and work with neighboring countries, including India, to build a peaceful, safe, secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home. China and India should remain confident, move in the same direction, avoid disruptions, expand cooperation, and consolidate the improvement momentum of bilateral relations, so that revitalization processes of the two great eastern civilizations can reinforce each other and achieve mutual success, providing the most needed certainty and stability for Asia and the world at large.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that under the joint guidance of leaders of both countries, India-China relations have moved from the bottom and are continuously improving and developing, with exchanges and cooperation between the two sides across various fields moving toward normalization. He expressed gratitude to China for facilitating Indian pilgrims' visits to the sacred mountains and lakes in China's Xizang. It is crucial for India and China to improve their strategic perceptions of each other. As the two largest developing countries, both India and China uphold multilateralism and are committed to promoting a fair and balanced multi-polar world. The two countries should also jointly maintain the stability of the world economy. Stable, cooperative, and forward-looking India-China relations serve the interests of both countries. Taiwan is part of China. India is willing to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust with China, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, trade and other fields, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in border areas. India fully supports China in hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms.
Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest and concern.
Ten Outcomes from China–India Foreign Ministers’ Talks
On August 18, 2025 local time, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, held talks in New Delhi with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two sides held positive, constructive, and forward-looking discussions on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest, and reached the following consensus and outcomes:
The two sides emphasized that the strategic guidance of the two countries’ leaders plays an irreplaceable and important role in the development of China–India relations. They agreed that a stable, cooperative, and forward-looking China–India relationship helps unlock the development potential of both sides and serves their common interests. They further agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders and promote the sound and steady development of China–India relations.
China welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the upcoming SCO Tianjin Summit. India reaffirmed its full support for China’s work as the rotating chair of the SCO and looks forward to a successful summit that delivers fruitful results.
The two sides agreed to support each other in hosting major diplomatic events at home. China supports India in hosting the 2026 BRICS Leaders’ Meeting. India supports China in hosting the 2027 BRICS Leaders’ Meeting.
The two sides agreed to explore the resumption of various intergovernmental bilateral dialogue and exchange mechanisms, to strengthen cooperation while accommodating each other’s concerns, and to properly manage differences. They agreed to hold the third meeting of the China–India High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges Mechanism in India in 2026.
The two sides agreed to continue supporting each other in organizing a series of commemorative events marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India in 2025.
The two sides agreed to resume direct flights between mainland China and India as soon as possible and to revise the bilateral air services agreement. They also agreed to facilitate visa issuance for people traveling in both directions for tourism, business, media, and other activities.
The two sides agreed to continue in 2026 the pilgrimages by Indian devotees to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, and to expand their scale.
The two sides agreed to take concrete measures to facilitate the flow of trade and investment between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas through friendly consultations.
The two sides agreed to uphold multilateralism; strengthen communication on major international and regional issues; safeguard a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core; advance multipolarity in the world; and defend the interests of developing countries.
China and India Hold Special Representatives’ Meeting on the Boundary Issue
On August 19, 2025, local time, the 24th Meeting of the Special Representatives on the China–India Boundary Issue was held in New Delhi. China’s Special Representative, Wang Yi—Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs—held comprehensive, in-depth, and productive talks with India’s Special Representative, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, on the boundary question and bilateral relations.
Wang Yi stated that President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan reached important consensus, providing direction and impetus for improving China–India relations and appropriately handling the boundary question. Since the beginning of this year, bilateral ties have entered a steady track of development, and the situation along the border has continued to stabilize and improve. As two major neighbors and major developing countries, China and India share similar visions and broad common interests; they should trust and support each other—this is the proper state for two emerging major powers. China attaches great importance to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, and looks forward to India making a positive contribution to the success of the summit.
Wang Yi emphasized that history and reality have repeatedly proven that the sound and steady development of China–India relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is also the shared expectation of the vast number of developing countries. The two sides should, in line with the strategic guidance of the two leaders, view and handle bilateral relations and the boundary question with a dual-track, mutually reinforcing, and virtuous-cycle approach: enhance mutual trust through dialogue and communication, expand exchanges and cooperation, and jointly work to build consensus, clarify direction, and set goals in areas such as border management and control, boundary negotiations, and cross-border exchanges. They should properly resolve specific issues and achieve more positive progress, continuously creating favorable conditions for the improvement and development of bilateral relations.
Doval said that the Kazan meeting between the two leaders was a turning point in the improvement and development of India–China relations. The two sides’ mutual perceptions have changed positively, the border areas have remained peaceful and tranquil, and bilateral relations have made breakthrough progress. In a turbulent international environment, India and China face a series of common challenges; it is necessary to enhance understanding, deepen trust, and strengthen cooperation—matters that concern the well-being of the two peoples and world peace and development. India has consistently adhered to the one-China policy. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China. Prime Minister Modi looks forward to visiting China to attend the SCO Tianjin Summit, which he believes will promote new progress in bilateral relations. India supports China, as the rotating chair of the SCO, in hosting a successful summit. India is willing to maintain communication and dialogue with China in a positive and pragmatic spirit, continuously building conditions for the final settlement of the boundary question.
The two sides exchanged views on early harvests in the boundary negotiations and reaffirmed that they will give full play to the role of the Special Representatives’ Meeting mechanism. In accordance with the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles agreed in 2005, and in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding, they will explore a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solution. At the same time, they will strengthen normalized border management and control and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas. The two sides agreed to hold the 25th Meeting of the Special Representatives on the China–India Boundary Question in China next year.
The two sides also exchanged views on major international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Indian Prime Minister Modi Meets Wang Yi
On August 19, 2025 local time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi.
Modi asked Wang Yi to convey his cordial greetings to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, and said he looks forward to visiting China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin and to meeting with President Xi. India will fully support China’s work as the rotating chair of the SCO to ensure the summit’s complete success.
Modi noted that India and China are both ancient civilizations with a long history of friendly exchanges. He said the two leaders’ meeting in Kazan last October was a turning point in the improvement and development of bilateral relations. India and China are partners, not rivals, and both face the shared task of accelerating development. The two sides should strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, and expand cooperation so that the world can feel the immense potential and bright prospects of India–China cooperation. He added that both sides must prudently manage and handle the boundary issue and must not let differences turn into disputes.
Modi said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China. The two sides should view the relationship from a long-term perspective; the arrival of the “Asian Century” cannot happen without India–China cooperation. Advancing hand in hand, the two countries will contribute to global development and benefit all humanity.
Wang Yi conveyed cordial greetings from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to Prime Minister Modi and welcomed Modi to China to attend the SCO Tianjin Summit. Wang said that the successful meeting between the two leaders in Kazan last October set China–India relations on a fresh restart. By earnestly implementing the important consensus reached by the two leaders, the two sides have pushed bilateral relations into a new phase of improvement and development—an outcome that was hard-won and should be cherished. His current visit to India, at the invitation to attend the Special Representatives’ Meeting on the Boundary Question, also serves as preparation for high-level interactions between the two countries. Following comprehensive and in-depth communication, the two sides reached agreement on the following in terms of bilateral relations: to restart dialogue mechanisms across various fields, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold multilateralism, jointly address global challenges, and oppose unilateral bullying. On the boundary question, they forged new consensus to carry out normalized management and control, maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, properly handle sensitive points, and, where conditions permit, launch boundary delimitation talks.
Wang Yi said that China–India relations have experienced ups and downs, and the lessons learned are worth remembering. Whatever the circumstances, both sides should adhere to the correct positioning of being partners rather than rivals, stay committed to prudently managing differences, and not allow the boundary dispute to affect the overall picture of bilateral ties. Given the current international landscape, the strategic significance of China–India relations is more prominent, and the strategic value of China–India cooperation is more evident. China will conscientiously implement the important consensus of the two leaders, strengthen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and promote the steady and long-term development of China–India relations to better benefit the two peoples and enable the two great civilizations to make their due contribution to the progress of humankind.
During the visit, Wang Yi held the Special Representatives’ Meeting on the China–India Boundary Question with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and held talks with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
As usual, a fine and valuable article.
China saw triangulation from Kissinger. Now China uses India to win the Cold War with the U.S. as the U.S. used China to win the Cold War against the Soviets.
I notice the Congressional Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is headed by a MAGA Republican of India descent. Is he partially motivated by India-China hostility?
So much for America’s vaunted Indo-Pacific theater. Maybe we should rename our alliance “the Hawaii Alliance”