In a notable diplomatic development, India and China have held their first bilateral consultations on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) matters since the resolution of the eastern Ladakh military standoff in 2024. The talks, held in New Delhi on April 16 and 17, signal a cautious but clear effort by both sides to rebuild engagement through multilateral platforms.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions focused on strengthening coordination within the SCO framework and reviewing the organisation’s future direction.
India-China SCO talks: Who led the talks and what was discussed?
The consultations were led by India’s SCO National Coordinator Alok A Dimri and China’s National Coordinator Yan Wenbin. “Two sides exchanged views on implementation of SCO Leaders’ Decisions, and the future-course of the organization. Both sides agreed to continue and consolidate mutual-cooperation and consultations in SCO matters,” the statement read.
The delegations also jointly called on Secretary (West) Sibi George, reviewing ongoing cooperation across key sectors.
“Both delegations, jointly, called on Secretary (West) Shri Sibi George to review cooperation within the SCO framework, including in the areas of security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties,” the statement added.
What key areas of cooperation were on the table?
The discussions reflected a broad-based agenda, with both countries exploring ways to deepen coordination in security, trade, connectivity, and cultural exchanges. India-China SCO consultations also underlined the importance of sustained dialogue, with both sides agreeing to continue mutual consultations in the future under the SCO mechanism.
This engagement comes as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise ties while leveraging multilateral groupings like SCO and BRICS to maintain communication channels.
India-China relations since post-Ladakh disengagement
The talks are particularly significant as they mark the first such bilateral SCO consultations after India and China managed to resolve the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2024.
Since then, both countries have continued to engage through multilateral forums. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to China last year for the SCO summit, while Beijing has pledged support for India’s ongoing BRICS presidency.
Further high-level engagements are also on the horizon, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi likely to visit India for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting next month on May 14-15, and President Xi Jinping expected to travel to India in September 2026 for the summit. PM Narendra Modi had last met with Xi on August 31, 2025 on the sidelines of the Summit of the leaders of the SCO.
What role does SCO play in India’s strategic outreach?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, comprising 10 member countries including India, China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian nations, remains a key platform for regional cooperation.
India has been a full member since 2017 and has actively shaped the grouping’s agenda. During its presidency from 2022 to 2023, India emphasised a ‘SECURE’ SCO, focusing on Security, Economic Development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.
New Delhi also introduced new areas of cooperation such as startups and innovation, traditional medicine, science and technology, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage.
Meanwhile, after his last meeting with Xi, PM Modi had expressed support for China’s Presidency of the SCO and the Summit in Tianjin. He also invited President Xi to the BRICS Summit that India will be hosting this year.