During the NDTV World Summit 2026, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the current state of diplomatic relations between India and China. He emphasized that the primary focus for the Indian government remains the restoration of peace and tranquility along the disputed border regions. According to Jaishankar, these border issues are a fundamental hurdle that must be cleared before the two nations can move toward a more normalized bilateral relationship.

Jaishankar framed the ongoing tensions as a natural consequence of the geopolitical reality shared by two large, neighboring powers. By characterizing the friction as an expected outcome of their size and proximity, he suggested that while the challenges are significant, they are not necessarily an anomaly in international relations. However, he maintained that the path to stability is contingent upon resolving the specific border disputes that have strained ties in recent years. The Minister’s comments reflect India's long-standing official position that border stability is the foundation for broader economic and diplomatic cooperation with Beijing. While the Minister acknowledged the complexity of the situation, he did not provide a specific timeline for when a full normalization of ties might occur, focusing instead on the necessity of the current diplomatic approach.