Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart Wang Yi; Pushes for De-escalation of border tensions

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. During this, he said that there has been ‘positive progress’ in the last nine months towards normalizing India-China relations. Now both the countries should focus on reducing tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. During this, he said that there has been 'positive progress' in the last nine months towards normalizing India-China relations. Now both the countries should focus on reducing tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Differences should not become disputes; competition should not become conflicts.

Jaishankar clearly said that if India and China have to take their relations in a positive direction, then it is important that differences do not take the form of disputes and competition does not turn into conflict.

Concern over trade barriers

Indirectly referring to the restrictions imposed by China on the export of important minerals, he appealed to both the countries to avoid 'restrictive trade policies' and other barriers. He said that it is necessary to remove these barriers to strengthen cooperation.

Improvement after Kazan meeting

Jaishankar, referring to the meeting of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, said that since then positive changes have been seen in India-China relations. Now there is a need to maintain this progress.

Trust increased due to border peace.

He said that the peace maintained on the border in the last few months has become the foundation of trust and progress between the two countries, which is necessary for lasting relations.

Promoting public relations and economic partnership

Jaishankar emphasized that it is important for neighboring countries like India and China to increase people-to-people contact and cooperation. For this, trade obstacles have to be removed so that both the countries can get mutual benefit.

Role of bilateral relations in global stability

He said that stable and constructive relations between India and China are not only in the interest of both countries but are also important for global stability. For this, mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity should be given priority.

Reiterated the earlier consensus

Finally, Jaishankar reminded that earlier also both the countries had agreed that differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes and competition into conflict. Under this principle, relations should be taken forward.