External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, Philippines, where the two leaders discussed the developments in India-China relations and the current state of affairs in relation to them, and the issues around the region and the world.
As Jaishankar said, the meeting is an important opportunity to assess the bilateral relationship in the present state of bilateral relationship and to discuss issues of mutual interest in the world as it is becoming more complex and international in this time of global uncertainty, he said.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar holds discussions with Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China in Manila, Philippines
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026
In his opening remarks during their meeting, EAM said, "Excellency, I am glad to meet you again. Our participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum not only… pic.twitter.com/yVQsP8hMjL
I am very happy to meet you again. And our participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum not only allows us to exchange views together but also to hold this bilateral meeting," Jaishankar said, recalling that the two had last met a year ago and that Wang Yi had recently visited India.
India-China Relations Gradually Normalising
The External Affairs Minister said relations between the two Asian neighbours have been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2024 in Kazan were on the rise. He said this positive trajectory was reinforced at the leaders' subsequent meeting in Tianjin.
India believes that a stable and cooperative relationship with China should be built based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, Jaishankar said.
He said that stronger bilateral ties between the two major Asian powers would be the key to creating a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world, as regional cooperation in global affairs becomes more and more important.
Border Peace Still the Foundation.
Jaishankar said peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain the key to normal bilateral relations.
He also noted that both countries have been engaged since October 2024 to keep the border areas stable and the current border management mechanisms should remain politically and diplomatically supported.
"Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties," he said.
Jaishankar recalled the leaders of India and China had reached an understanding that differences between India and China should not be allowed to escalate into disagreements.
"It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them," he said.
Progress in Bilateral Engagement
Jaishankar welcomed some confidence-building measures that are being created as part of the normalization process over the past few months.
These include:
Resumption of direct flights between India and China. Updates to the visa regime. Restart of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Resumption of border trade.
He described these steps as encouraging in terms of building trust and improving bilateral engagement.
Trade and Supply Chain issues.
And while Jaishankar acknowledged the progress achieved, he said several important economic issues still need attention.
He stressed the need for fair market access, overcoming the trade imbalance, and increasing the predictability of supply chains, and these are important issues for India.
The External Affairs Minister also called for better official interactions, business engagement, and people-to-people contacts, with the importance of scheduling meetings of various bilateral relationships for the purpose of the various bilateral mechanisms so that they were organised according to mutual interests and objectives.
BRICS and Global Developments
Jaishankar also thanked China for supporting India's initiatives during its current BRICS Chairship, and appreciated Beijing’s cooperation in various BRICS activities.
Referring to the changing international situation, he said the world situation has become more complex and that the meeting was a good time to bring these sides together and discuss the pressing international and regional issues.
The successful bilateral talks in Manila demonstrate India and China’s continued diplomatic dialogue to stabilize relations, to increase cooperation where possible and to mitigate differences as well as deal with wider geopolitical and economic challenges.
