India and China have agreed to continue with the “pace of high-level exchanges” on subjects of mutual interest and concern, including counter-terrorism, during a meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, though, without throwing any firm pointer whether ‘contentious issues’ also figured during their interaction at Hyderabad on Friday.
A statement issued by the MEA is silent on whether the two sides discussed issues related to India’s membership to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its move for a ban on Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar, who also happens to be the Pathankot terror attack mastermind.
Doval and Yang are the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question of India and China. It was the third visit of Yang, who is the Chinese State Councillor to India, in the last two months.
“The discussions, conducted in a friendly, open and cordial environment, covered a wide agenda spanning bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest,” according to the Ministry of External Affairs statement.
However, there was no word if Doval raised the issues related to China not offering ‘no objection’ to India’s NSG membership. The statement also didn’t mention if they discussed China vetoing India’s efforts to declare Azhar a proscribed terrorist by the United Nations.
The two officials “agreed to hold the 20th Round of Special Representatives Talks on the Boundary Question in India next year.”
“They agreed to maintain the pace of high level exchanges including in the political, economic, Defence and counter-terrorism fields,” the statement said.
The officials also agreed that the forthcoming high level engagement on counter-terrorism “is yet another manifestation of growing convergence of views of the two countries on this pressing challenge facing international community”, it said.
“The two leaders agreed that their consultations during which they exchanged views on various important and pressing bilateral issues have helped to enhance mutual understanding and will contribute to greater mutual trust,” the statement further said.
“The two sides appreciated that 2016 is an important year for bilateral engagement with President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for BRICS Summit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for G-20 being the major highlights of high level exchanges.
At the Hyderabad meeting, Doval and Yang agreed that their consultations during which they exchanged views on various important and pressing bilateral issues have helped to enhance mutual understanding and will also contribute to greater mutual trust.
The “mutually beneficial consultations” would “continue” in future to better understanding of issues concerning the two neighbouring countries.