Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China. He emphasised the need for both countries to sustain the current positive momentum and “avoid adding new complexities in bilateral ties” which might introduce fresh challenges to their bilateral relationship.

Rajnath Singh said that he and General Don Jun had “constructive and forward looking exchange of views” on issues related to bilateral ties. Rajnath Singh expressed happiness on the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

In a post on X, Singh stated, “It is incumbent on both the sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship.”

Rajnath Singh at the SCO meet

Singh arrived in China on Thursday for the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Admiral Dong Jun. Singh, Don Jun and other leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet. However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh firmly declined to sign a joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China after the final draft omitted mention of the Pahalgam terror attack and diluted India’s stand against terrorism.

Singh delivered a sharp message, asserting that countries should not apply “double standards” in addressing terrorism and that all those involved, whether perpetrators, sponsors, or financiers, must be held accountable. His statement was widely interpreted as a criticism directed at Pakistan and, indirectly, China, both of which were reportedly advocating for a more lenient approach in the summit’s concluding statement.

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The Singh-Don Jun meet comes after the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on June 23. They discussed recent progress in India-China relations and highlighted the importance of advancing overall bilateral cooperation, including enhancing people-to-people engagement.

During the meeting on Monday, NSA Doval emphasised the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain peace and stability in the region. The two leaders also spoke about other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to the statement shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).