NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun in Qingdao on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting on Friday and delivered a strong message on the future of bilateral ties between the two nations. “Held talks with Admiral Don Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao. We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on issues about bilateral relations,” Singh said in a social media post on Friday.“Expressed my happiness on the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years,” he said.“It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship,” he added.Singh’s visit to China came amid efforts by both New Delhi and Beijing to reset their ties following an understanding last October to end the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.He also presented a Madhubani painting from Bihar to his Chinese counterpart.This traditional art form, also known as Mithila painting, originates in Bihar’s Mithila region. It is characterised by intricate line drawings filled with bright colours, patterns, and tribal motifs. These paintings are popular for their vivid earthy tones and distinctive designs.
