New Delhi: China needs to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and redouble efforts with India for the disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points in the Ladakh sector, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar told his Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Thursday in a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, Mr Jaishankar also told the Chinese side to “fully abide by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past”.
The “two ministers also agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side” and also “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,” New Delhi said in a statement.
The meeting comes amid strains in ties between India and China that were triggered
The Chinese troops have yet to withdraw from some of the friction points in the Ladakh sector, despite numerous rounds of talks at the diplomatic and military levels between the two Asian giants. New Dehi has already made it clear to Beijing that ties between India and China cannot be normal until the Chinese troops pull back and the status quo that existed in the spring of 2020 is restored.
In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said, “The two ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations… Mr Jaishankar 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 the return of normalcy in bilateral relations...”
The foreign ministry added: “Both ministers agreed that the working mechanism on consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs should hold an early meeting. Mr Jaishankar 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. Mr Jaishankar extended to Mr Wang India’s support for China’s presidency of SCO next year. "
