Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong is scheduled to visit India this week, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations between the two countries following the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh. This visit, the second high-level exchange this year, follows Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Beijing in January, where he and Sun Weidong agreed on several measures aimed at normalizing ties.
Sun Weidong's two-day visit, starting on Thursday, underscores the progress made since the completion of troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, which had caused a five-year military standoff that strained the relationship. This improvement was further solidified by a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Russia in October 2024 and the resumption of the Special Representatives' (SR) Talks on the Boundary Question two months later.
During his visit, Sun Weidong is expected to meet with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and hold talks under the foreign secretary-vice minister mechanism. Doval is also likely to host Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who also serves as the Chinese Special Representative, for another round of SR talks later this year.
The discussions will focus on reviewing the progress made on the steps announced in January to normalize relations. One notable achievement is the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025, fulfilling a long-standing Indian request. Cooperation on trans-border rivers has also seen progress. However, the resumption of direct air services between the two countries, agreed upon in principle in January, is still pending.
Both sides are also expected to discuss the possibility of Prime Minister Modi visiting China in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, which could further strengthen the improving relationship. While Modi has been invited, his participation is yet to be confirmed.
The January meeting between Foreign Secretary Misri and Vice Foreign Minister Sun in Beijing resulted in several key agreements. Both sides agreed to actively engage at all levels on bilateral and multilateral platforms to strengthen strategic communication and enhance mutual political trust. They also committed to jointly commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India in 2025 through media and think tank exchanges and Track II dialogues to foster better understanding and restore public trust.
In addition to the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, both sides agreed to advance cooperation on trans-border rivers and resume direct flights between mainland China and India. They will also work to facilitate personnel flows and exchanges of resident journalists. These measures reflect a commitment to rebuilding ties and addressing specific issues, including trade concerns, to promote long-term policy transparency and predictability.
