In a landmark move toward restoring regional stability, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi completed a two-day visit to New Delhi from August 18-19, 2025, his first in three years. The visit comes at a critical juncture as India and China seek to thaw strained relations following the Galwan Valley clashes and years of diplomatic impasse.

The visit began with a pivotal meeting between Wang Yi and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. Emphasizing the need for a constructive approach to diplomacy, Jaishankar noted that "differences must not become disputes"-a phrase that encapsulated both the caution and hope embedded in this diplomatic reset.

A major outcome of the visit was the 24th round of Special Representatives' Talks on the contentious boundary dispute. Wang met with India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, where both sides agreed to form an Expert Group for early-harvest progress on border delimitation. Additionally, a new working group under the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs) was established to foster peace along the Line of Actual Control.

Economic cooperation also featured prominently on the agenda. China extended an offer to support India's strategic imports in critical sectors including rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring machinery-key supply chain components where India remains heavily reliant on Chinese exports. The move is seen as an effort to rebuild economic interdependence amid shifting global trade dynamics.

To deepen bilateral engagement, both nations agreed to resume direct commercial flights, revise their Air Services Agreement, and simplify visa protocols. These steps aim to boost tourism, business, and media exchanges. In a symbolic gesture of normalized border activity, trade through the Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La passes will restart. Furthermore, the sacred Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage is set for expansion by 2026, signaling goodwill across cultural and spiritual domains.

While the tone of the visit was conciliatory, both sides acknowledged unresolved challenges. Still, Wang Yi called for efforts to "enhance political mutual trust" and "advance practical cooperation," highlighting a shared interest in regional stability.

The diplomatic overture also sets the tone for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month-his first visit to China in seven years. Analysts see the twin visits as a coordinated effort to recalibrate ties in a complex geopolitical landscape marked by U.S.-China rivalry, BRICS expansion, and shifting multilateral alliances.

For both China and India, the stakes go beyond bilateral tensions. As major Asian powers, their ability to manage disputes and collaborate could have ripple effects across the Indo-Pacific, Eurasia, and beyond. This visit, while cautious in ambition, signals a reset built on dialogue, de-escalation, and incremental cooperation.