Manila, Philippines, July 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday that ensuring stability along the border remains a “pre-requisite” for restoring normal bilateral relations, emphasizing that ties between the two countries should be based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
During the talks, Jaishankar also raised key economic concerns, highlighting issues related to market access, the trade imbalance, and the predictability of global supply chains.
The two ministers met in Manila, where they are participating in key ministerial meetings under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework.
Relations between India and China have gradually improved in recent months following years of heightened tensions sparked by the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said a stable and cooperative relationship must be built on shared principles.
“We believe that a stable and cooperative relationship can best be developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity,” he said.
“Such a relationship can make a valuable contribution to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world.”
Reiterating the importance of maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar said stability in the border areas remains essential for normal relations.
“Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that important objective,” Jaishankar said.
“This will continue to need our constant attention. Relevant mechanisms in this domain must be given full support and strong encouragement,” he added.
Jaishankar also stressed that differences between the two neighboring countries should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.
“It is natural that as two large and important nations, and that too proximate neighbors, India and China would have their own particular interests,” he said.
“That is why our leaders had agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them.”
Turning to economic issues, Jaishankar outlined India’s priorities for improving bilateral trade.
“Fair market access and a trade balance rank high in that regard. There are also concerns about predictability of supply chains. Facilitating both official and people-to-people exchanges merit our attention,” he said.
“We also need to agree on the meetings of various mechanisms and platforms as per our mutual priorities.”
Military and diplomatic negotiations have enabled both countries to disengage forces from several friction points along the Line of Actual Control.
In October 2024, India and China implemented a troop disengagement agreement covering Depsang and Demchok, resolving the remaining standoff areas in eastern Ladakh.
Soon afterward, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, where they outlined a roadmap for rebuilding bilateral trust.
The dialogue gained further momentum during Modi’s visit to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he held comprehensive talks with President Xi and reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing bilateral ties based on mutual trust and respect.
Referring to those meetings, Jaishankar said, “Since the meeting of our leaders in Kazan in October 2024, relations between India and China have been gradually normalizing. This direction was further affirmed when they met in Tianjin last August.”
He welcomed the progress made in restoring normal engagement between the two countries.
“This includes resumption of direct flights, updating of the visa regime, restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and recommencing border trade,” Jaishankar said.
The minister also acknowledged China’s support for India’s leadership of BRICS this year.
“India is the chair of BRICS this year. Let me take the opportunity to appreciate the support that China has given to various BRICS activities and initiatives during our chairship,” he said.
Commenting on the broader international environment, Jaishankar added, “The global situation is currently extremely complicated. Meeting at an international gathering, it would be appropriate to exchange views on some of its pressing aspects.” (ANI)
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