External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday and stressed the need for open and honest talks between India and China. He said that this kind of dialogue is important, especially in the middle of today’s complex global situation.

Jaishankar is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. During his visit, he expressed hope that discussions with Chinese leaders would help continue the recent positive developments in India-China relations.

"Let me say that it is a pleasure to be with you during my visit to the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting. India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed out, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions on this visit will maintain that positive trajectory," Jaishankar said during the meeting.

He mentioned that India and China had recently celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations. He also noted that the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra—a religious pilgrimage important to many Indians—was a welcome step.

"We have marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes," he said.

S Jaishankar further said that both countries, being neighbours and large economies, should keep communicating openly. He emphasised that sharing views would help both sides better understand each other in a time of global uncertainty.

"The international situation, as we meet today, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important," he added.

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