EAM Jaishankar Meets Chinese Counterpart Wang Yi At SCO Summit

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. This marks the first high-level interaction since the beginning of the Modi 3.0 government in New Delhi.

Jaishankar and Wang exchanged warm greetings, engaged in conversation, and posed for a photograph together during their meeting.

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The significance of this meeting is underscore by the four-year-long strain relations between India and China following the Eastern Ladakh standoff. Since May 2020, there have been 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to address the standoff.

LAC To Receive Respect

Jaishankar emphasized that the “Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas be always enforced.”

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the SCO Meeting of the Council of Heads of State, where they discussed various bilateral issues, including restoring border peace and rebuilding relations.

Both ministers acknowledged that the ongoing situation in the border areas is not beneficial for either side and had an “in-depth exchange” on resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh to “stabilize and rebuild” bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Jaishankar highlighted the need to intensify efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore peace and tranquillity at the border. He stressed the importance of adhering fully to past bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings.

To expedite the resolution of outstanding issues, the leaders agreed to continue and increase meetings between diplomatic and military officials. They also agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should convene an early meeting.

Jaishankar Reiterate India-China Relationship

Jaishankar reiterate that the India-China relationship is best serve by observing the principles of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests. The two ministers also exchanged views on global issues, with Jaishankar extending India’s support for China’s upcoming presidency of the SCO.

Notably, the SCO Summit in Astana include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend, with EAM Jaishankar representing India at the summit instead.