New Delhi
India and China registered a positive step in their strained relationship on Monday after visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar that Beijing will resume the supply of fertilizers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines (TBMs) — critical for India’s agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
During their meeting, Jaishankar is understood to have raised the issue of supply disruptions in urea, NPK, DAP fertilizers, rare earths, and TBMs, which China had curbed for nearly a year. The resumption is seen as a significant move, given Beijing supplies nearly 30% of India’s fertilizers, key minerals for auto parts, and TBMs for large infrastructure projects.
Although trade and economic issues dominated the discussions, boundary talks were deliberately kept off the table. Those will instead be addressed by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during the Special Representative-level dialogue scheduled for Tuesday, with a focus on troop de-escalation along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). Despite some progress in Ladakh, both armies remain heavily deployed, making disengagement a priority.
Jaishankar also reiterated India’s consistent position on Taiwan, stressing that New Delhi, like the rest of the world, maintains only economic and cultural ties without altering its diplomatic stance.
The talks, described as cordial, also reflected a shared concern about US policies under President Donald Trump. Both sides acknowledged the need to enhance bilateral engagement amid uncertainty stemming from Washington’s decisions, which they believe could impact both India and China.
Later in the day, Minister Wang is expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further underscoring efforts to stabilise ties after years of strain.
