Mutual respect, sensitivity and interest must be basis of bilateral ties, says EAM
India on Thursday conveyed to China the need for an early resolution of all outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and said that bilateral ties should be based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
India’s stand was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in an hour-long meeting on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Bali on the sidelines of a conclave of Foreign Ministers of the G20 nation.
“Began my day in Bali by meeting FM Wang Yi of China. Discussion lasted one hour. Focused on specific outstanding issues in our bilateral relationship pertaining to the border situation. Also spoke about other matters, including students and flights,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Jaishankar and Wang looked forward to the next round of military talks between the two sides at an early date to resolve the border issue.
Jaishankar also discussed with Wang the vexed issue of the return of Indian students to China and the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.
On the discussions on the border row, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of “fully abiding” by bilateral agreements and protocols, and the understandings reached between him and Wang in their previous conversations.
“The External Affairs Minister called for an early resolution of all the outstanding issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh,” the MEA said in a statement.
Recalling the disengagement achieved in some friction areas, Jaishankar reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquillity in border areas.
“He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols, and the understandings reached between the two Ministers during their previous conversations,” the MEA said.
“In this regard, both Ministers affirmed that the military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue maintaining regular contact and looked forward to the next round of senior commanders’ meeting at an early date,” it said.
Jaishankar also reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals --mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.
The MEA said Jaishankar also recalled his meeting with Wang in Delhi in March and reviewed the progress of some key issues discussed then, including the return of students.