EAM S Jaishankar meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on sidelines of SCO Summit

Dushanbe: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Dushanbe. The two Ministers exchanged views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control LAC in Eastern Ladakh as well as on global developments.

The External Affairs Minister noted that since their last meeting on 14th July the two sides had made some progress in the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and had completed the disengagement in Gogra area. However there were still some outstanding issues that needed to be resolved.

In this context Dr Jaishankar recalled that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had in their last meeting noted that the bilateral relations were at low ebb. Both sides had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of the either side as it was impacting the relationship in a negative manner. 

The External Affairs Minister therefore emphasized that the two sides should work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral



agreements and protocols.

He underlined that it is necessary to ensure progress in resolution of remaining issues so as to restore peace and tranquility along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh noting that peace and tranquility in the border areas has been an essential basis for progress in the bilateral relations. In this regard, the Ministers agreed that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should meet again and continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on the recent global developments. The External Affairs Minister conveyed that India had never subscribed to any clash of civilisations theory. He said that India and China had to deal with each other on merits and establish a relationship based on mutual respect. 

He said, for this, it is necessary that China avoid viewing the bilateral relations from the perspective of its relations with third countries. Dr Jaishankar said, Asian solidarity would depend on the example set by India-China relations. The two Ministers agreed to remain in touch.