New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in New Delhi on Monday and made it clear that bilateral ties between the two countries can only improve if there is peace along the border.
The meeting comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, later this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the summit and meet Chinese president Xi Jinpeng.
Discussing border issues “is very important because the basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.
“This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides. In that endeavour, we must be guided by the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. Differences must not become disputes nor competition, conflict..,” he added.
The Chinese foreign minister is on a two-day visit to India, during which he will call on PM Modi and also hold the 24th round of border talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Jaishankar also highlighted the need for both countries to withdraw troops from forward positions along their disputed border in the western Himalayas, where tensions have persisted since a deadly clash in 2020.
he External Affairs Minister also said that the fight against terrorism in all its forms is a major priority for both countries and hoped that the discussions would help build a stable and cooperative relationship that serves both sides’ interests.
India’s EAM also raised the issue of terrorism. Despite India’s best efforts, China has refused to call out Pakistan for its role in promoting terrorism in the region. Rather, Pakistan received both material and moral support from China during Operation Sindoor that India launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.
“The fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is another major priority. I look forward to our exchange of views. Overall, it is our expectation that our discussions would contribute to building a stable cooperative and forward-looking relationship between India and China, one that serves both our interests and addresses our concerns,” Jaishankar said during the meeting.
PM Modi’s visit to China will be his first in seven years, though he did meet Xi in 2024. Apart from China and India, the SCO includes Russia, and several Central Asian nations.
Relations between China and India deteriorated after the Galwan clash of 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. An unspecified number of Chinese troops also lost their lives in the skirmish.