China: Indian Ambassador meets Quanzhou Party Secretary, discusses bilateral ties
Beijing, July 9
India's Ambassador to China, Vikram Doraiswami, on Thursday met Quanzhou Party Secretary Zhang Yigong and discussed opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
"Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami had a cordial meeting with Quanzhou Party Secretary Mr Zhang Yigong. They discussed opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across the commercial, investment, and cultural sectors. Both sides highlighted the long-standing historical connections between India and Quanzhou and expressed support for building on these shared links to deepen future engagement," the Embassy of India in Beijing wrote on X.
Ambassador Doraiswami and Consul General Gince Mattom also visited the 7th-century Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian.
"Ambassador Doraiswami and Consul General Gince Mattom visited the 7th-century Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian, where they were warmly received by Chief Monk Ven. Shi De Sheng. A testament to centuries of India-China cultural exchanges, the temple reflects artistic and architectural influences of both local and ancient Indian traditions," stated the Embassy.
On Wednesday, the Ambassador met Wu Ken, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA).
"Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami met Ambassador Wu Ken, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), today. Ambassador expressed his appreciation for CPIFA's contributions to promoting people-to-people exchanges, including through Track II and Track 1.5 dialogues," the Embassy wrote on X.
Earlier in the week, the Ambassador held his introductory meeting with Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, where they agreed to strengthen efforts to fully implement the vision of the leaders of the two countries for stable and mutually beneficial relations.
"On 6 July 2026, Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami held his introductory meeting with H.E. Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. Both sides agreed to strengthen efforts to fully implement the vision of the leaders of the two countries for stable and mutually beneficial relations that deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries. They also exchanged views on further expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, and people-to-people exchanges. Ambassador also welcomed Vice Minister Hua's assurance of China's support for India's BRICS Presidency," stated the Embassy.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Ambassador Doraiswami is doing a good job building bridges. The mention of people-to-people exchanges and BRICS presidency support is positive. But honestly, after Doklam and Galwan, trust is low—we need concrete actions, not just meetings. 😕
Quanzhou was a major port on the Maritime Silk Route, and Indian traders had a strong presence there centuries ago. It's good to revive that history. But China's aggressive stance on border issues makes every diplomatic move suspect. Let's see if this leads to less rhetoric and more reciprocity.
Cultural diplomacy is fine, but what about the trade imbalance? China imports far more from India than we import from them, and our businesses face non-tariff barriers. Hope the Ambassador raises these issues even at temple visits! 😅
First meeting with Hua Chunying—she's tough but experienced. The fact that both sides agreed to implement leaders' vision is promising. But China's 'wolf warrior' diplomacy hasn't helped. Let's hope this is a genuine reset. Indians are watching closely. 🇮🇳
As an outsider living in India, it's interesting to see how both countries manage their deep historical ties and modern rivalries. The temple visit is a nice symbolic gesture, but real progress requires transparency on border issues and trade disputes.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.