Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on August 19, 2025, during a three-day visit to India. This visit, which spans from August 18 to 20, marks Wang Yi's first trip to India in three years and is expected to focus on border talks and improving overall relations between the two countries.
Wang Yi's visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi's planned trip to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1. This will be Modi's first visit to China in seven years. The meetings signify a continued effort by both nations to stabilize their relationship, particularly by maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and fostering a more mutually beneficial economic partnership.
During his visit, Wang Yi is expected to hold the 24th round of Special Representatives' talks on the India-China boundary question with India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. A bilateral meeting between Wang and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also on the agenda. These discussions aim to address the long-standing border disputes between the two countries, which have seen some de-escalation following years of tension. The last meeting between Wang Yi and Ajit Doval took place in Beijing in December, where they reviewed disengagement efforts in eastern Ladakh along the LAC. Currently, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 troops remain deployed on each side of the disputed border.
Several key issues are expected to be discussed during the meetings, including the resumption of direct flights between India and China, which have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic and the Galwan clash in 2020. Economic cooperation will also be a significant focus, with discussions likely to cover the restoration of rare earth magnet imports from China and the resumption of fertilizer supplies. China had been a major supplier of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer to India until 2023-24, but imports have fallen significantly since then, with no imports occurring since January 2025.
The current state of India-U.S. relations has brought Sino-Indian ties into sharper focus, highlighting the need for both countries to maintain predictable relations and pursue a mutually advantageous economic partnership. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations, stating that "a cooperative 'pas de deux' of the dragon and the elephant as partners helping each other succeed is the right choice for both sides". He also affirmed China's readiness to work with India to strengthen political trust, enhance cooperation, and properly handle differences to promote the steady development of China-India ties.
Easing tensions between China and India has gained momentum, particularly after an agreement last October regarding patrolling their border. This agreement has helped to ease a five-year standoff that had negatively impacted trade, investment, and air travel between the two countries.
