India, China hold talks to improve bilateral ties; people-centric engagement, trade in focus

India and China on Wednesday, January 14, held high-level talks in New Delhi aimed at stabilising and gradually rebuilding bilateral relations, with both sides stressing the need to prioritise people-centric engagement, economic exchanges and confidence-building measures after years of strain in ties.

Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary, met Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), during her visit to India from January 12 to 14. The discussions took place against the backdrop of cautious diplomatic outreach by both countries as they seek to normalise relations without overlooking unresolved sensitivities. He noted that sustained engagement at multiple levels would be key to creating the right environment for progress, particularly in areas that directly affect citizens, such as travel, education, cultural exchanges and business mobility.

The MEA said both sides acknowledged the need to take “positive steps” that could help move the relationship forward in a calibrated manner. While official statements avoided specifics, diplomatic sources indicated that easing restrictions on exchanges and encouraging dialogue beyond government channels formed an important part of the conversation.

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Sun Haiyan, for her part, shared her impressions from interactions with Indian media, think tanks and political parties during her visit. She conveyed Beijing’s interest in expanding exchanges under the MEA–IDCPC programme, which facilitates dialogue between political and diplomatic institutions of the two countries.

Officials reviewed ways to stabilise commercial ties and improve predictability for businesses operating across borders. Although trade between India and China remains significant, concerns over market access, supply chains and strategic dependencies have weighed on the relationship in recent years.

The MEA said both sides discussed how business-centric engagement could help inject momentum into broader bilateral ties, provided it is supported by confidence-building measures and a stable diplomatic framework. Restoring regular channels of communication between industry bodies and encouraging transparent dialogue were seen as steps that could help reduce friction.

A central theme of the talks was the reiteration of commitment by both sides to implement the “important directions” provided by their respective leaders. The MEA said India and China agreed to continue working towards advancing bilateral relations on the path of normalisation, even as differences on sensitive issues remain.

Officials reviewed what the MEA described as the “positive momentum” in ties in recent months and explored ways to sustain it. Enhancing people-to-people exchanges, addressing concerns through dialogue and maintaining diplomatic engagement were highlighted as essential elements of this process.

During the discussions, the Chinese side congratulated India on assuming the BRICS chairship this year and expressed support for a successful summit.

Separately, on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the launch of preparations for BRICS India 2026. The event marked the unveiling of the BRICS logo, theme and website. Following the interaction, Xu said China looked forward to working with India and other partners to advance high-quality development within BRICS, noting that cooperation within multilateral platforms could offer areas of convergence even amid bilateral challenges.

India has stated that its BRICS chairship will adopt a “humanity-first” and people-centric approach, with a focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.