Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Visit India on August 18 for High-Level Talks with NSA Ajit Doval

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit India on August 18 for talks under the Special Representatives mechanism, with a meeting confirmed between him and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, according to sources cited by Hindustan Times. The visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by both countries to ease tensions and restore diplomatic engagement.

This visit follows a recent flurry of high-level interactions between India and China. Last month, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting, where he also met Wang Yi. Before that, in June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SCO defence ministers' meet, marking another instance of direct diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

As part of recent confidence-building measures, both countries have reportedly agreed to resume direct commercial flights between New Delhi and Beijing — a symbolic but significant step toward rebuilding ties.

Geopolitical shifts may also be nudging New Delhi to rethink its approach. With the U.S. under President Donald Trump imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods, India is exploring ways to diversify its diplomatic and trade partnerships, including efforts to re-engage with China.

Relations between India and China took a sharp downturn following the deadly Galwan Valley clash on June 15, 2020. In a brutal seven-hour confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer, lost their lives. The incident marked the most serious military conflict between the two countries in over 60 years.

While China initially refrained from releasing any casualty figures, reports later suggested that it may have suffered over twice as many losses as India. The violence triggered a major diplomatic freeze and military buildup along the border.

Since then, both sides have engaged in a series of military and diplomatic talks, leading to partial disengagement in friction zones such as eastern Ladakh, Depsang, and Demchok.

Wang Yi’s upcoming visit could be a key moment in the gradual thaw of India-China relations, as both countries navigate a complex regional and global landscape.