Defense Minister Rajnath's first visit to China after the Galwan conflict, these issues will be discussed
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' meeting to be held in Qingdao city of China from 25 to 27 June. However, he will not hold bilateral talks with Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will be participating in the SCO Defense Ministers' conference to be organized in Qingdao city in China from 25 to 27 June. This will be the first visit to China after the Galwan conflict in 2020 for the Defense Minister. This may take the relationship between India and China in a new direction.
Last November, Foreign Minister S. In the bilateral talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Jaishankar (S. Jaishankar), it had been agreed to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, information sharing in respect of water sharing of common rivers and restart of direct flights between one another's countries. Bilateral talks between Rajnath Singh and the Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, can now go forward on certain other pending issues.
Defense ministers of 10 countries, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, will participate in the SCO meeting. It will discuss regional security cooperation, anti-terrorism measures, and increasing connectivity. Rajnath Singh can also hold bilateral talks with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov during the meeting. He can also meet the defense ministers of Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There will be no bilateral meeting with Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. India clarified that no such talks are possible due to Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism.
China's inclination towards India has increased due to US President Donald Trump's tariff war. It has expressed its desire to increase cooperation with India. Rajnath Singh's visit is taking place at a time when regional and global security issues are in the headlines. Recently, India distanced itself from the SCO statement condemning Israel's air strikes on Iran. India clarified that efforts should be made to reduce tensions in the Middle East through diplomacy.
