BEIJING – India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with topChinese diplomat and Politburo member Yang Jiechi in Shanghai.

This is their first meeting after Yang was promoted as Director of theCommunist Party’s new Central Foreign Affairs Commission, which was set upin March. Yang, earlier Doval’s counterpart as the State Councillor, hasrelinquished that post to Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Doval’s meeting with the top Chinese foreign policy decision maker comesahead of PM Modi visit and other several key dialogues between the twoneighbours, who have been looking to set ties on track after last year’sborder standoff at Doklam.