From Conflict to Cooperation: India-China Relations Back on Track With New Agreements

National News:Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a two-day official visit to India. On Tuesday, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Earlier, he had one-on-one discussions with NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Wang Yi had arrived in Delhi on Monday evening for this short but important trip.

This visit is being described as a new attempt by both countries to rebuild their relationship, which was badly damaged after the Galwan Valley clash of 2020. That violent incident created serious mistrust and tension between the two sides. However, over the past several months, the situation has been improving, and this visit is expected to take the process forward.

Positive Signs After Years of Strain

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, relations with China are moving in a better direction. After his meeting with Wang Yi, NSA Ajit Doval said that the border areas have remained calm in recent months and that both countries are committed to keeping peace along the Line of Actual Control. He also noted that bilateral relations are now more stable and firm compared to earlier.

According to Doval, the discussion in Kazan between PM Modi and President Xi played a significant role in improving ties. That meeting came just after both sides agreed to withdraw troops from the disputed areas of Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh. The understanding reached and the Modi–Xi talks created a foundation for improved relations.

Main Agreements During the Visit

During the talks, India and China reached several points of agreement, which include:

• Working towards an early and fair resolution of the border dispute.
• Establishing an expert group to look at boundary delimitation.
• Considering steps to lower the number of soldiers in border regions
• Restoring direct air connectivity between the two countries soon.
• Finalizing a new agreement on aviation services.
• Issuing visas for tourists and professionals more easily.
• Expanding Indian pilgrimages, especially to Kailash Mansarovar.
• China sharing river water information with India.
• Reopening border trade at three trade points.
• Cooperating in multilateral platforms for mutual benefit.
• Holding discussions on transboundary river cooperation.
• Celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and China next year.

Talks Between Wang Yi and Jaishankar

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar. Their talks spanned multiple issues of concern at the bilateral, regional, and global levels. India strongly raised the issue of cross-border terrorism, which has been a consistent concern for New Delhi. Beijing assured that talks on the matter would continue. Both ministers emphasized that peace and stability along the LAC are necessary for building stronger overall relations.

Looking Ahead

This visit by Wang Yi is being seen as a step forward in normalizing India-China ties. While deep differences remain, particularly on the boundary question, both sides now appear more willing to cooperate in areas such as trade, travel, and cultural exchanges. Restoring air services, improving border trade, and expanding people-to-people contacts are expected to serve as confidence-building measures.

If the agreements reached during this visit are implemented with sincerity, the two countries could move towards a more cooperative and less confrontational relationship. For now, the visit signals cautious optimism that India and China are ready to work together again after years of mistrust.