Rajnath Singh avoids handshake with Chinese defence minister at SCO summit, first meet since Galwan clash

New Delhi: A moment that highlights tension between India and China over border transgression in Galwan, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as he begun the bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries, did not shake hand with the Chinese Defence minister.

In the video posted by news agency ANI, Rajnath Singh can be seen welcoming his Chinese counterpart with folded hands but not with a handshake as he did to welcome his other counterparts from Iran and Tajikistan.

Watch the videos here:

During the, bilateral Defence-related issues and other matters of mutual interest were discussed by the ministers.

The first bilateral meeting was held with the Defence Minister of Kazakhstan, Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov followed by Iran’s Defence Minister, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani, Tajikistan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo and Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu.

First visit by the Chinese Defence Minister post border transgression in Galwan

This is the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister following the border transgression in Galwan.

India and China recently held the 18th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side. India, and China during the 18th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting, agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector of the LAC.

The meeting took place after a gap of five months. The last meeting between the two sides at the Corps Commander level was held in December last year.

Rajnath to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu

On Friday, Singh will likely meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu and Belarus and Uzbekistan Defence Ministers.

The theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘Secure-SCO’. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. The SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. 

(With inputs from ANI)