Important Bilateral Meetings Held on Sidelines of SCO Meeting in China
July 17—On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers’ Council held July 15-16 in Tianjin, China, there were several important meetings. Among them:
• Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in his first visit to China since the start of the military standoff between Chinese and Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control in the Himalaya Mountains in 2020, met with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Of the Wang-Jaishankar meeting, Wang said, “The relationship has its own historical logic and intrinsic driving force, and it should not target third parties or be disturbed by them. The two sides should build mutual trust instead of suspicion, pursue cooperation instead of rivalry, and support each other’s success instead of wearing each other down.” He noted that this is the 75th year of China-India diplomatic relations.
For his part, Jaishankar noted in his X account the importance of the meeting of Chinese President Xi and Indian President Modi on October 23, 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. The July 16 Global Times reported, “Jaishankar said that the meeting between the two leaders in Kazan provided important guidance for China-India relations, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields are moving towards normalization. He expressed gratitude to China for facilitating the return of Indian pilgrims to sacred sites in Xizang.” Jaishankar said that India and China are development partners rather than competitors. India is willing to view its relationship with China from a long-term perspective to focus on common interests, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the border areas.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and separately with Russia’s Foreign Sergey Lavrov. A July 14 AL-Monitor article, “Iran’s Araghchi To Meet China, Russia Foreign Ministers at Shanghai Cooperation Meeting,” quotes Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE Network intelligence group, stating, “Iran will be looking for ways that they can facilitate Iranian oil exports to China in a reliable way that can’t be upended.” Iran exports approximately 90% of its oil to China. As well, Iran has important economic and military ties with China. At one point. President Donald Trump had said that he would support increased oil sales to China, as a means for Iran to accumulate funds to rebuild from the damage inflicted by Israel in the 12-Day War.
Meanwhile, RT reported in a July 11 article, “Tehran Invites Moscow To Help Rebuild in Wake of Israeli-U.S. Airstrikes,” quoting Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali as saying on July 11 that, “Russia can play its role in restoring damaged civilian infrastructure, if necessary, as well as being a mediator to help reduce tensions.”
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov met with Foreign Minister Araghchi on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago.