Chinese foreign minister assures Russia and India of deepening bilateral ties at SCO meeting

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has assured his Russian and Indian counterparts that China will continue to deepen bilateral relations and that “coordination and cooperation” will only grow stronger, as it demonstrates its solidarity with two of China’s biggest neighbours.

Qin met with other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India last week, as Beijing seeks to maintain stable relations with regional countries amidst tense ties with the West, particularly Washington.

The United States has been urging China to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine, although Beijing has not denounced Russia’s military actions as an invasion. In a significant move, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke directly with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine.

During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO gathering, Qin stated that China is “willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to make tangible contributions to the political settlement of the crisis” in Ukraine. The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination with other SCO member-states and maintain the bloc’s “unity,” according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry today.

Furthermore, they agreed to enhance coordination in the Asia-Pacific region, but the ministry offered no specific details. Currently, SCO members include Russia, India, China, Pakistan, and four Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran and Belarus are expected to join the SCO at a summit in New Delhi in July, as per an Indian foreign ministry official.

In a separate meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Qin stated that China is willing to deepen “coordination and cooperation” on international and regional issues with India and restore their ties to a “healthy” development track.

China’s relationship with India worsened in 2020 after their forces clashed over a disputed Himalayan border, resulting in the deaths of 24 individuals. Last month, tensions rose when Beijing released a map that included Arunachal Pradesh, which India claims, is part of Tibet.

Qin informed Jaishankar that the current border situation is “generally stable,” however, he also urged reflection on the lessons of history while maintaining bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, mutual respect, learning from one another, and achieving shared success.