Beijing: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held diplomatic discussions in Beijing, marking his first visit to China since the strained bilateral ties following the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

Upon his arrival in Beijing, EAM Jaishankar immediately plunged into high-level meetings. He met with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, where discussions centred on the SCO's burgeoning significance in regional cooperation and ongoing initiatives to streamline and modernise its operations. "Glad to meet SCO SG Nurlan Yermekbayev in Beijing today," Jaishankar shared on social media, adding, "Discussed the contribution and importance of SCO, as well as the endeavours to modernise its working."

This pivotal interaction comes as Jaishankar prepares to attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the SCO member states in Tianjin, a crucial preparatory step ahead of the 25th Heads of State Council meeting later this year in the same city. India had held the SCO Presidency in 2023, with Pakistan hosting the Leaders' Summit in 2024. The SCO, a permanent intergovernmental organisation, includes India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus, aiming to strengthen cooperation across political, economic, and security domains.

Earlier in the day, the External Affairs Minister also held a key bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Jaishankar emphasised that the continued normalisation of ties between India and China holds the potential for "mutually beneficial" outcomes. He underscored the critical importance of open dialogue and the candid exchange of perspectives between the two populous neighbours and major global economies, especially given the "very complex" international situation.

"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," Jaishankar stated in his opening remarks, expressing confidence that his discussions would "maintain that positive trajectory."

Marking the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties, Jaishankar highlighted a significant positive development: the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. This pilgrimage, deeply revered in India, had been suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions. Its resumption is "widely appreciated in India" and serves as a tangible sign of improving relations.

Jaishankar's visit follows recent high-level Indian participation in SCO events, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visits to China in June for security-focused SCO meetings.

With inputs from IANS