The visit of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has paved the way for a cautious thaw in India-China relations, especially in the aftermath of the Doklam standoff. Marking a step toward diplomatic normalization, the talks underscored both sides’ willingness to reduce the trust deficit and resume dialogue. Key takeaways include efforts to restart direct flights, revive the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and explore convergence on critical regional and global issues.
Diplomatic observers also note a renewed push for the revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format, a platform long championed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Once viewed as a counterbalance to Western-led alliances, RIC is regaining relevance as global power dynamics shift and the pursuit of a multipolar world gains momentum.
Faisal Ahmed, a leading voice on China’s global affairs, and currently a professor of international business and geopolitics at the FORE School of Management, New Delhi, believes that a restoration of mutual trust between New Delhi and Beijing could breathe new life into the idea of ‘Asian Unity’ and contribute to shaping a more equitable, multipolar global order.
Q. What is the significance of the visit to India by Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China?
The visit of Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has been significant as it set the momentum of Sino-India rapprochement. In fact, since the LAC dispute, there have been 33 rounds of WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs) meetings – the last one in March this year – which have gradually helped in reducing the mistrust between the two sides, thereby leading to troop disengagement last year. The ongoing exchanges at the level of the government and the high-levels visits like this one signifies a mutual acceptance for resumption of talks and future engagements. In fact, this visit, must be seen as an effort to carry forward the momentum put forth by Prime Minister Modi and President Xi in Kazan. Since, Sun Weidong has also served as the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi, his visit brings a message of mutual trust, and resumption of dialogues – both of which will immensely benefit the two countries. In fact, there are other key aspects such as support for China’s SCO presidency, reducing trust deficit, developing common positions on global and regional issues, operationalising direct flights, and, resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that acquires immense significance.
Q. What do you think about the trilateral dialogue between India, Russia, and China, which Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has been advocating?
I think the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral mechanism is geo-strategically significant, even if it’s time is yet to come! But, it will get a boost with the visit of President Putin later this year for the India-Russia summit. In fact, when Foreign Minister Lavrov pitches for the revival of RIC, what makes it worth considering by both India and China is its initial mandate of counterbalancing Western dominance, and the call for a multipolar world order. As India now exercises its tenets of strategic autonomy, and so does China, RIC does provide a breeding ground for Asia to develop an alternative security architecture that can potentially rebalance any form of Western dominance.
Q How will this visit impact bilateral trade relations?
I think whether it is about reducing India’s almost $100 billion bilateral trade deficit, or about the two countries’ eagerness to develop robust and predictable supply chains, trade remains a driving force. In this meeting, the two sides have decided to carry forward the process of dialogues – and this is indeed a welcome move. Also, given the structure of bilateral trade between the two countries, there remains key issues such as those related to market access in services, transparency in rules of origin, export restrictions on rare earth elements, non-tariff barriers, and others. Some of these were also the reasons for India pulling out of the RCEP mega-regional bloc negotiations in 2019. All these issues therefore need to resolved through the functional and expert dialogue processes. The two sides have already agreed to make efforts to resume direct flight, which will definitely boost people-to-people contact and contribute to services trade.
Q. How will this visit affect diplomatic relations between the two countries?
I think this meeting has paved the way for dialogue, cooperation, and rapprochement between the two countries. The relations have remained constrained since the Ladakh standoff. This visit also creates possibilities to reduce their divergences, and explore newer possibilities in areas where they converge. The visit will also give a message to the international community that India and China together have a strong role in global governance and global economic architecture. The two countries also seem to create newer possibilities to build common positions in international organisations such as the UN, WTO, and the Bretton Wood institutions to restore their legacy as well as legitimacy. This, and successive visits, will strengthen multipolarity, trade multilateralism, and of course the Southern Voice.
Q India and China have several disputes, but how is the Trump administration in US changing global alliances given the current global scenario?
The United States and China may be into a ‘great power’ strategic rivalry, but their bilateral cooperation in multifarious sectors of the economy is exemplary. That is the reason why despite the US-China Trade War of 2018 or the Tariff War of 2025, United States could not put a cost on China, and in a matter of time rolled back the reciprocal tariffs. Also, the US-led security and geo-economic alliances could not deter China from playing a leadership role in world affairs, and especially in the Global South along with India. Also, through its Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, and more so through the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), China carries a significant global clout.
India and China too historically share a deep-rooted relationship characterised by civilizational linkages, trade routes, and ancient knowledge exchanges. Today, despite the American narratives and its own view of a world order, India and China have successfully positioned themselves as the friends of Global South, have developed common position in forum such as BRICS, and are seeking reforms in international organisations.
With this backdrop, I can say that the Trump dispensation has been gradually trying to bring India as a key player into the Indo-Pacific strategy, but for India, its strategic autonomy remains the key to foreign policy orientation. Whether it is through defence deals, or joint naval exercises, or trade, India-US relations are indispensable, but only till the time India’s national and economic interests are not subdued by American interests. Also, if the United States’ engagements with India is based on a view to counterbalancing China e.g. through QUAD, IPEF etc, I think it is too myopic. India and China are neighbours and responsible powers, and restoration of mutual trust will bring synergy to the idea of an ‘Asian Unity’.
