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.On June 23, National Security Advisor Ajit Dovfal held a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing and reviewed recent developments in India-China relations and underscored the need to promote the overall development of the bilateral ties, including by fostering greater people-to-people ties.During the meeting, NSA Doval emphasised the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain peace and stability in the region. The two leaders also spoke about other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to the statement shared by the Ministry of External Affairs.