New Delhi/Rio de Janeiro/Beijing:
India and China have decided to soon convene a meeting of their special representatives on the border issue after a gap of almost five years. Weeks after withdrawing their troops from two conflict spots in eastern Ladakh, both countries are close to resuming direct flights and Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Foreign Minister S. The next steps in India-China relations were prominently discussed in the talks between Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi late on Monday night on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of stabilizing relations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both ministers felt that it is important that the focus should be on stabilizing relations, resolving differences and taking next steps. This was the first high-level conversation between the two sides after the completion of the disengagement process in Depsang and Demchok on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
The Foreign Ministry said that both the ministers agreed that the withdrawal of troops in the border areas has helped in maintaining peace and harmony. He said, “The discussion focused on the next steps in India-China relations. It was agreed that a meeting of the Special Representatives and the Foreign Secretary-Deputy Minister mechanism would be held soon.
“The steps discussed included resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, sharing of data on trans-border rivers, direct flights between India and China and mutual movement of media persons,” the ministry said.
The 22nd round of talks of Special Representatives (SR) were held in New Delhi on December 21, 2019. India’s SR for the talks is National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, while the Chinese side is led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, direct flights between India and China and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage were suspended. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, in the meeting, Jaishankar told Wang that India is against a unilateral approach to establish dominance and it does not view its relations from the perspective of other countries.
“On the global situation and international issues, the External Affairs Minister said that there are both differences and similarities between India and China,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. We have worked constructively in the BRICS and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) framework.
Accordingly, Jaishankar said that India is strongly committed to a multipolar world including multipolar Asia. “As far as India is concerned, its foreign policy has been principled and consistent, based on independent thought and action,” the statement said. We are against a unilateral approach to establish dominance. India does not view its relations from the perspective of other countries.
The statement said that Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed with Jaishankar that India-China relations have special importance in world politics. The Foreign Ministry said, “He (Wang) said that our leaders had agreed on the way forward in Kazan. Both ministers felt it was important to focus on stabilizing relations, resolving differences and taking next steps.
Jaishankar said on the social media platform ‘X’, “We noted the recent progress in troop withdrawal in the India-China border areas. Also exchanged views on the next steps in bilateral relations. Also discussed the global situation.
The two sides are believed to be in the process of reviving various dialogue mechanisms, including Special Representative talks on the border subject, as witnessed in the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Russian city of Kazan on October 23. It was decided.
Days after the two sides agreed on October 21 to disengage in Demchok and Depsang, Indian and Chinese armies completed the process, virtually ending the more than four-year-long standoff at both the confrontation sites. Went.
Both sides also resumed patrolling activities in these areas after a gap of about four and a half years. In his opening statement at the talks, Jaishankar referred to the meeting between Modi and Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on October 23.
“In Kazan, our leaders reached a consensus on taking next steps in our relations, keeping in mind the October 21 agreement,” he said. I am happy to note that the implementation of that consensus on the ground has progressed as planned.
The Foreign Minister said, “Our leaders have directed that the foreign ministers and special representatives should meet as soon as possible.” Some progress has been made in this direction, some discussions have taken place.” In his remarks, the Foreign Minister also drew attention to the importance of India-China relations.
He said, “First of all I want to say that it was great to meet you during the G-20. As you mentioned, we also met each other recently during BRICS. And our contribution at both forums was significant in shaping the final outcomes.
At the same time, according to reports from Beijing, Wang said in his meeting with Jaishankar that India and China should implement the important consensus reached at the summit in Russia between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping.
Government news agency ‘Xinhua’, citing the official statement on the Wang-Jaishankar meeting, said that both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, respect each other’s interests, and use the means of dialogue and communication. Mutual trust should be enhanced, differences should be resolved with honesty and integrity and bilateral relations should be brought back on the path of progress as soon as possible.
Sources said that after the completion of the process of withdrawal of troops, Indian and Chinese armies are doing one round of patrolling each in Depsang and Demchok. He also said that both sides have maintained the deployment of troops on the LAC and now the focus will be on reducing tension overall.
At present, about 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers from both sides are deployed on the LAC in the area. He said that talks are going on at many levels to reduce tension.
After India and China reached an agreement on October 21 to withdraw troops from Depsang and Demchok, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had said the Indian Army was trying to restore “confidence” and to achieve this objective, For this, both sides will have to “reassure each other”.
Two days after the signing of the agreement, Modi and Xi held talks in the Russian city of Kazan. The standoff on the eastern Ladakh border started on May 5, 2020, after violent clashes in the Pangong Lake area.
