Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese envoy on bilateral ties

Chinese envoy Xu Feihong called on external affairs minister S. Jaishankar this week, days after a bipartisan US Congressional delegation met Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Dharamshala.

“Honored to call on External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today. We exchanged views on China-India relations and other issues of common interest. Thanks for his best wishes. Look forward to working with the Indian side to push forward the development of China-India relations towards the right direction,” Xu posted on X, along with a photo of the meeting.

Xu took charge as the Chinese ambassador in May this year after an 18-month gap, succeeding Sun Weidong, who had completed his tenure in October 2022.

Jaishankar, who also met the envoys of some other nations, including Sri Lankan high commissioner KshenukaSenewiratne and New Zealand high commissioner Patrick John Rata, posted on X:”Discussed our bilateral relationship and our common interest in its stabilization and progress. Wished him a successful tenure.”

A group of US lawmakers, led by Michael McCaul, a Republican representative from Texas who also chairs the US house committee on foreign affairs, met with the Dalai Lama last week.

The visit followed the passage of a bill earlier this month by the US Congress that seeks to encourage dialogue between China and Tibetan leaders in exile.

US President Joe Biden is likely to soon sign a legislation called “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act,” or the Resolve Tibet Act.

China had responded to the meeting by urging the US to recognize the Dalai Lama’s “anti-China and separatist nature” and avoid any form of contact with him. Beijing said it would take “resolute measures” to defend its territorial sovereignty.