Jaishankar's tough message to Xi Jinping: End trade roadblocks and normalise ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, his first visit to China in five years. During the meeting, Jaishankar raised concerns about trade restrictions imposed by China, including controls on rare earth material exports that affect India's EV sector and the blocking of tunnel boring machines for the bullet train project. He stressed the need to normalise relations and people-to-people exchanges, stating, 'It is also essential in this context that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided.' The discussions also covered the need to complete the border disengagement and de-escalation process and the sharing of hydrological data for the Brahmaputra River. This meeting occurs as efforts are underway to repair relations following the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi in Kazan.