Jaishankar, Wang Yi agree to expedite resolution of border disputes to stabilize relations

NEW DELHI: Foreign Ministers of India and China have agreed that the prolongation of the volatile situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either sides.

"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,’’ said External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

The two ministers also agreed that it was important to respect the LAC and ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

"The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties,’’ Dr Jaishankar added.

The two Ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations.

He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always ensured.

Meanwhile, both ministers agreed to step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials and take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. It was agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting.

Dr Jaishankar also extended India’s support for China’s Presidency in the SCO next year.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s remarks were read out by Dr Jaishankar during the Summit.

"The SCO is a principle-based organisation, whose consensus drives the approach of its member states. We are reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in internal matters as a basis of our foreign policies. I congratulate Kazakh side for successfully hosting the SCO Summit and also convey our best wishes to China for the next Presidency of the SCO,’’ said PM Modi.

The Jaishankar-Wang talks came amid the dragging border row in eastern Ladakh that entered its fifth year in May.

The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from several friction points.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The two sides held the last round of high-level military talks in February with an aim to resolve the row.

Though there was no indication of a breakthrough at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain "peace and tranquillity" on the ground and continue the communication on the way ahead.

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