National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday met China’s Vice-President Han Zheng along with other Heads of Delegation participating in the 20th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Security Council Secretaries in Beijing.
The Indian Embassy in China stated on X:
“On 24 June, NSA Ajit Doval called on Han Zheng, Vice-President of China along with other Heads of Delegation attending the 20th Meeting of the SCO Security Council Secretaries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.”
On Monday, NSA Doval also held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, stressing the importance of countering terrorism in all its forms to ensure regional peace and stability. His remarks hold significance as they come shortly after India’s Operation Sindoor, which struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
During his meeting with Wang Yi, Doval reviewed recent developments in India-China bilateral relations, emphasizing the need to foster broader cooperation, including increasing people-to-people exchanges. Both sides discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
NSA Doval also expressed his intent to host Wang Yi in India for the 24th round of the Special Representative (SR) Talks at a mutually convenient date.
A notable development accompanying the thaw in relations was the restoration of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year, which had been suspended for nearly six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent military tensions in Eastern Ladakh.
NSA Doval’s visit reflects India’s strategic focus on enhancing dialogue within multilateral platforms like the SCO while asserting its firm stance against cross-border terrorism, particularly in the backdrop of Pakistan’s close ties with China.