Work in progress, slower than desirable, India on China border talks

The foreign ministers of India and China on Friday discussed bilateral relations that have been disturbed as a result of Chinese actions in April 2020. Dr Jaishankar said they discussed bilateral relations that have been disturbed as a result of Chinese actions in April 2020. They addressed a broad, substantive agenda in an open and candid manner during the three hour long meeting. He said the occasion provided an opportunity to exchange views on major international issues, including Afghanistan and Ukraine. Other important concerns in bilateral relationship including education, travel and commerce were also taken up. 

Addreeing media Dr Jaishankar described the current situation with China as a 'Work in Progress', which is at a slower pace than desirable. He said the impact of tension in border areas on the overall Indian China relationship has been visible in the last two years. He said this is only natural since peace and tranquility in border areas has been the foundation of stable and cooperative ties. He stressed that frictions and tensions that arise from China's deployment since 2020 cannot be reconciled with normal relations between the two neighbours. He said Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke about China's desire for a return to normalcy. Dr Jaishankar pointed out that India wants a stable and predictable relationship but restoration of normalcy would require restoration of peace and tranquility. He said that where India and China are concerned, the relationship is best served by observing the three Mutuals - Mutual Respect, Mutual Sensitivity and Mutual Interest.

The Minister said that so far as Afghanistan is concerned, India's policy is guided by the UN Security Council Resolution 2593. On Ukraine, both the Ministers discussed respective approaches and perspective but agreed that diplomacy and dialogue must be the priority. During the meeting, Dr Jaishankar also took up the predicament of Indian students studying in China who have not been allowed to return citing COVID restrictions. He hoped that China will take a non-discriminatory approach since it involves future of many young people. Jaishankar said he had also raised India's objections to Wang's comments on Kashmir at an event in Pakistan."I conveyed that we hope that China will follow an independent policy with respect to India and not allow its policies to be influenced by other countries and other relationships," he said.

According to China's statement on the meeting, Wang Yi said the two nations should "stick to the road of their own choice, correctly grasp the developmental direction of bilateral relations and work together to make their own contribution to regional and even world peace and stability. "The two sides should adhere to the strategic judgement of the leaders of the two countries that 'China and India pose no threat to each other and are opportunities for development', put aside differences on the border issue in an appropriate position in bilateral relations, and stick to the correct development direction of bilateral relations," Wang Yi said at the meeting.  

Earlier, national security advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Wang and told him restoration of peace in border areas will help build trust, create enabling environment for progress in ties. The two sides agreed that  the continuation of the present situation is not in mutual interest and the restoration of peace and tranquility will help build mutual trust and create enabling environment for progress in relations.