EAM meets China’s Wang Yi, stresses on redoubling efforts for complete border disengagement

Astana/New Delhi, July 4 (FN Representative) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and stressed on the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining border areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore peace and tranquility. The EAM met Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Astana SCO Summit. The EAM stressed on the three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – that will guide the bilateral ties. In a post on X, the EAM said: “Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. “Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end. “Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential. “The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties.” An official statement said the two Ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations. 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 enforced. Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. EAM reiterated that India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests. The two Ministers also exchanged views on the global situation. EAM extended to FM Wang Yi India’s support for China’s Presidency of SCO next year, the statement added. Bilateral ties between the two nations deteriorated sharply in 2020 after violent clashes between their troops in the high-altitude Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region in June, that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, and an unspecified number of Chinese casualties. Both sides have held several rounds of talks to resolve the boundary issue, with troops massed on either side of the border as well as upgraded infrastructure. India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border – much of it poorly demarcated.