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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks about improving India-China relations and the impact of border stability during an interaction in New York. (Images: X)
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India-China relations have improved compared to the situation in the past few years, with progress in resolving border-related issues helping both countries move towards greater normalcy.
Speaking at a conversation hosted by the Asia Society in New York, Jaishankar said the relationship today is better than it was in 2025 and has improved further compared to 2024. He attributed the change largely to efforts to stabilise the situation along the border after the 2020 military standoff.
Jaishankar said India and China had reached a basic understanding that the condition of the border directly impacts the overall relationship between the two nations. “The state of the border determines the state of the relationship,” he said, adding that tensions along the frontier and normal diplomatic ties cannot continue together. According to him, once the border situation started moving back towards stability, other aspects of bilateral engagement also began improving.
The External Affairs Minister highlighted that after the 2020 border crisis, several normal interactions between India and China were disrupted. While trade relations continued, official exchanges, visa processes and flights between the two countries were affected. He said resolving the border situation was necessary for rebuilding broader engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.
Jaishankar added that India had consistently conveyed to China that prolonged confrontation did not benefit either side and that both countries needed to find solutions in their own interests.
During his interaction, Jaishankar also spoke about the changing global order and said the world was moving towards a more multipolar system. He pointed to shifts in international relations, including changing approaches by major powers, and said countries across the world were now focusing on reducing risks, diversifying partnerships and finding practical solutions.
Discussing the evolving relationship between the United States and China, Jaishankar said competition between major economies would continue to influence global affairs. He said countries were reassessing their strategies and looking for new opportunities amid changing geopolitical realities.
Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when India and China are working towards maintaining stability along the border while gradually rebuilding diplomatic engagement after years of strained relations.
