The BJP hosted a six-member delegation from China’s Communist Party (CPC) at its Delhi headquarters, marking the first formal party-to-party meeting since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The talks aimed to strengthen dialogue and advance inter-party ties amid a gradual thaw in India-China relations.
The BJP on Monday hosted a six-member delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC) at its headquarters in New Delhi, marking the first formal party-to-party engagement between the two sides since the deadly Galwan Valley skirmish in 2020.
The meeting aimed at advancing party-to-party ties and strengthening dialogue, amid a gradual thaw in India-China relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
CPC delegation details
The CPC delegation was led by Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC (IDCPC), and included Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong.
The BJP delegation was headed by party general secretary Arun Singh. Vijay Chauthaiwale, BJP’s in-charge for foreign affairs, said the discussions focused on “the means to advance inter-party communications between the BJP and the Communist Party of China (CPC)” and ways to enhance dialogue and interaction.
Singh tweeted: “Ms Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister, International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) visited the BJP head office today. During the meeting we discussed how to enhance communication and interaction between BJP and CPC.”
A day after visiting the BJP, the CPC delegation met senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the organisation’s headquarters in Keshav Kunj, Delhi.
A senior RSS official described the visit as “a courtesy call,” noting that the request had come from the CPC and was accommodated. “There was no specific agenda for the meeting,” the official added. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not present, as he was travelling.
Historical context
Party-level interactions between the BJP and CPC are not new, with several delegations visiting Beijing since the late 2000s. However, this is the first engagement of its kind since the 2020 Galwan clash along the Line of Actual Control, which severely strained India-China relations.
The latest talks follow efforts to resume dialogue and disengagement along the eastern Ladakh sector, facilitated by the Modi-Xi interaction at BRICS last year.
Congress criticises BJP
The Congress party slammed the BJP’s engagement with the Chinese Communist Party, questioning the timing and intent of the meeting. The opposition highlighted China’s claim over the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, raising concerns over national interests amid the party-level exchanges.
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