Jaishankar pushes for fair trade, supply chain reliability in talks with Wang Yi

External affairs minister S Jaishankar underlined the significance of fair market access, trade balance and supply chain reliability in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, while welcoming recent measures to normalise Sino-Indian ties like the upgrading of the visa framework and resumption of direct flights, Kailash pilgrimage and border trade. In a meeting in Manila on the margins of ASEAN events, Jaishankar also stressed that border peace and tranquility will remain a prerequisite for normal ties. Ahead of the BRICS summit India will host in September, he thanked Wang for China's support for India's presidency. While a final confirmation from Beijing is still awaited, President Xi is likely to attend the summit. India's relations with China have improved considerably since PM Narendra Modi and Xi met in Kazan in 2024, marking the end of the border standoff in eastern Ladakh.