Manila: Ensuring stability along frontier regions remains a ‘pre-requisite” for restoring standard diplomatic engagements between the two most populous countries in the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday.
Bilateral relations ought to be anchored in mutual respect, interest and sensitivity, Jaishankar said, as reported by ANI.
He raised crucial economic concerns with Wang, drawing attention to market entry barriers, expanding trade deficits and unpredictable global supply networks.
Diplomatic representatives from both countries gathered in the Phillipines capital to participate in key ministerial discussions hosted under the umbrella of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This comes at a time when there is a thaw in relations between the two Asian giants, following years of acute tension triggered by the long-drawn military standoff in eastern Ladakh that began four years ago.
Jaishankar, in his address, stressed that a stable and cooperative partnership requires a foundational framework governed by shared principles.
“We believe that a stable and cooperative relationship can best be developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity,” he said during his opening statement.
“Such a relationship can make a valuable contribution to a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world,” he insisted.
The Indian EAM reiterated the absolute necessity of maintaining calm along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), noting that border stability is non-negotiable.
“Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that important objective,” Jaishankar said.
“This will continue to need our constant attention. Relevant mechanisms in this domain must be given full support and strong encouragement,” he highlighted.
Jaishankar called for prudent diplomatic stewardship, cautioning that differing views should be prevented from escalating into active confrontation.
“It is natural that as two large and important nations, and that too proximate neighbours, India and China would have their own particular interests,” he stated.
“That is why our leaders had agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them,” the former diplomat highlighted.
He shifted focus to economic friction points, outlining New Delhi’s key trade priorities.
“Fair market access and a trade balance rank high in that regard. There are also concerns about predictability of supply chains. Facilitating both official and people-to-people exchanges merit our attention,” Jaishankar said.
“We also need to agree on the meetings of various mechanisms and platforms as per our mutual priorities,” he added.
Both sides pulled back frontline formations from multiple contentious sectors along the LAC, after several rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations.
Both sides successfully executed a troop disengagement agreement focused on Depsang and Demchok in October 2024, resolving the final remaining standoff locations in eastern Ladakh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping convened a bilateral session in Kazan shortly after this, outlining roadmap directives to rebuild trust.
PM Modi’s visit to Tianjin for the SCO Summit further strengthened bilateral dialogue. During that exchange, PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to advancing bilateral engagement through mutual trust and respect.
“Since the meeting of our leaders in Kazan in October 2024, relations between India and China have been gradually normalising. This direction was further affirmed when they met in Tianjin last August,” Jaishankar said.
He also expressed appreciation for the progress made over recent months towards restoring normalcy.
“This includes resumption of direct flights, updating of the visa regime, restarting the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, and re-commencing border trade,” Jaishankar noted.
Jaishankar also acknowledged Beijing’s constructive engagement with Indian-led multilateral programmes under the BRICS banner.
“India is the chair of the BRICS this year. Let me take the opportunity to appreciate the support that China has given to various BRICS activities and initiatives during our chairship,” he stated.
“The global situation is currently extremely complicated. Meeting at an international gathering, it would be appropriate to exchange views on some of its pressing aspects,” Jaishankar said, touching upon prevailing international uncertainties.
