NEW DELHI, Aug 18, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - China's top diplomat landed in 
neighbouring India on Monday, seeking to bolster long-fraught relations in 
the face of intense pressure and tariffs from the United States.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his counterpart Subrahmanyam 
Jaishankar, and is also expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during 
his three-day visit to New Delhi.

Modi, according to Indian media, might also visit China this month.

India's foreign ministry said in a social media post that "important 
engagements of the India-China Special Representatives and on bilateral 
relations" were scheduled over the next two days.

The world's two most populous nations are intense rivals competing for 
influence across South Asia, and fought a deadly border clash in 2020.

But caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US 
President Donald Trump's tariff war, the countries have moved to mend ties.

Restarting border trade across their icy and high-altitude Himalayan border 
is expected to feature high on Wang's agenda.

Its resumption would be significant for its symbolism, and follows agreements 
to return direct flights and issue tourist visas.

India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the United States, 
Australia and Japan, which is seen as a counter to China.

- Modi calls 'friend' Putin -

Warming ties between China and India come as relations between New Delhi and 
Washington are strained.

Trump has issued an ultimatum for India to end its purchases of Russian oil -
- a key revenue source for Moscow's war in Ukraine -- or Washington will 
double new import tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent.

Modi said Monday he spoke to "my friend" Vladimir Putin, with the Russian 
president "sharing insights" on his Alaska summit with Trump last week.

"India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine 
conflict and supports all efforts in this regard," the Indian premier wrote 
on social media.

Indian hopes that the Alaska meeting would ease US tariff pressure were 
tempered earlier Monday by US trade adviser Peter Navarro.

"If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to 
start acting like one," he wrote in a sharply-worded column in the Financial 
Times.

"India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed 
crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs," he 
wrote.

"The proceeds flow to India's politically connected energy titans, and in 
turn, into Vladimir Putin's war chest," he added, in an apparent swipe at 
India's big refiners, which include tycoon Mukesh Ambani.

Navarro said the 50 percent tariff -- due to begin on August 27 -- will "hit 
India where it hurts".