BEIJING, July 27: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday held a series of high-level meetings in Beijing as India and China continued efforts to stabilise and strengthen bilateral relations through sustained diplomatic engagement. During his visit, Misri met senior leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and other top Chinese officials to discuss expanding cooperation across political, cultural and academic sectors.
The visit marks another significant step in the ongoing dialogue between the two neighbouring countries following recent interactions between their top diplomatic leadership.
Misri, who previously served as India’s Ambassador to China, began his official visit with a meeting with Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The discussions focused on implementing the understanding reached by the leadership of both nations and identifying ways to further strengthen bilateral engagement.
According to the Indian Embassy in Beijing, both sides reviewed avenues to deepen political communication while encouraging greater exchanges between academic institutions, policy think tanks and people from both countries. The discussions also covered several priority areas of mutual interest aimed at improving overall bilateral cooperation.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of India and China to maintain diplomatic communication and expand engagement beyond traditional government channels. Officials emphasised that increasing interaction between scholars, institutions and civil society could contribute to building greater mutual understanding.
As part of his engagements, the Foreign Secretary also met Hong Liang, Deputy Secretary General of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Hong previously headed the boundary affairs department in China’s Foreign Ministry and has been closely associated with issues concerning bilateral relations.
During the interaction, both leaders explored opportunities to strengthen political exchanges and expand people-to-people contacts, recognising the importance of sustained dialogue in promoting stable and constructive ties between the two countries.
Diplomatic sources indicated that Misri’s schedule in Beijing includes several additional meetings with senior Chinese officials aimed at carrying forward discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional issues of common interest.
The Foreign Secretary’s visit comes shortly after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related ministerial meetings held in Manila on July 21. That interaction reaffirmed both countries’ willingness to maintain regular diplomatic communication and continue efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Misri’s current visit is viewed as part of the broader diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing following recent high-level exchanges. Officials believe that consistent dialogue at multiple levels remains essential for addressing outstanding issues while expanding cooperation in areas where mutual interests converge.
The meetings in Beijing underline India’s emphasis on maintaining diplomatic channels with China through sustained political engagement and institutional exchanges. Both sides are expected to continue discussions on enhancing cooperation while implementing the guidance provided by their respective leaderships.
With multiple rounds of high-level contacts taking place in recent weeks, the visit signals continued momentum in efforts to foster greater trust, improve communication and broaden bilateral engagement across diverse sectors.