Moscow: Foreign Ministers of India and China have concurred that extending the volatile situation in border areas is not beneficial for either side.
“I met with CPC Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Astana this morning. We discussed the early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. We agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end,” stated External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Thursday, during the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
Both ministers emphasized the importance of respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border regions.
“The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties,” Dr. Jaishankar added.
The ministers agreed that prolonging the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the need to intensify efforts for complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh to restore peace and facilitate normalcy in bilateral relations.
He reaffirmed the importance of fully adhering to relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and past understandings between the two governments. Respect for the Line of Actual Control and maintaining peace in border areas was stressed.
Both ministers agreed to increase meetings between diplomatic and military officials to expedite the resolution of remaining issues. They agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should convene an early meeting.
Dr. Jaishankar also extended India’s support for China’s upcoming presidency of the SCO next year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks were read by Dr. Jaishankar during the summit.
“The SCO is a principle-based organization, whose consensus drives the approach of its member states. We reiterate mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, and non-interference in internal matters as the basis of our foreign policies. I congratulate the Kazakh side for successfully hosting the SCO Summit and extend our best wishes to China for the next presidency of the SCO,” said PM Modi.
The Jaishankar-Wang talks occurred amid the ongoing border dispute in eastern Ladakh, which entered its fifth year in May.
Since May 2020, the Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a standoff, with full resolution still elusive despite disengagement from several friction points. Bilateral relations deteriorated significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, marking the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The last high-level military talks were held in February with the aim of resolving the dispute.
Although no breakthrough was achieved at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain “peace and tranquility” on the ground and continue discussions on the path forward.
