Amid rising tensions between US, Iran and Israel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will be visiting China this week to attend several meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

While Rajnath Singh will attend the meeting of defence ministers of member nations in Qingdao from June 25 to 27, Doval will attend a meeting of national security advisers ahead of the SCO summit.

This visit would mark the first ministerial-level engagement between India and China since relations began improving after the October 2024 agreement to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The visit of both Singh and Doval coincides with the departure of the first batch of Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar, a significant pilgrimage site in Tibet.

The SCO meeting will focus on regional security cooperation, counter-terrorism, and connectivity among member nations. Rajnath Singh may also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO meeting.

The visit is seen as part of a broader effort by both sides to restore normalcy in bilateral relations after the military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020. On the other hand, Ajit Doval will engage in Special Representative-level talks with Chinese officials to further de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and work towards a boundary settlement.

These visits mark an important step in India-China relations, which have been strained since the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Both countries are working towards restoring normalcy and trust through diplomatic engagements.