Differences between India and China should not become disputes: Jaishankar in meeting with Wang

India and China must resolve friction along the border, pull back armed troops from along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and avoid “restrictive trade measures” to normalise their relationship, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting in Beijing on Monday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) put out a statement made by Jaishankar describing the way forward on the border and troop build-up along the LAC. “It is now incumbent upon us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation,” the minister told Wang Yi.

The two sides don't have a demarcated border and the LAC acts as a de facto boundary. The issue of de-escalation of troops from along the LAC is pending since October last year, when the two sides agreed to dis-engage from two friction spots along the LAC. 

What Jaishankar told Wang Yi is the second such reference to the border and LAC made by India in less than three weeks. Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, stressed on the need for the two countries to have a “permanent solution” of border demarcation and suggested a roadmap for permanent de-escalation of troops along the LAC.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar mentioned the need for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border areas and lauded the progress in the past nine months for the normalisation of bilateral relations.

“It is a result of the resolution of friction along the border and our ability to maintain peace and tranquillity there. This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations,” Jaishankar said.

Addressing the recent curbs imposed by China on export of rare earths -- needed to produce electronic parts -- Jaishankar said, “It is also essential that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided.”

He said the India-China bilateral relationship requires a “far-seeing” approach to ties. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan in October 2024, the India-China relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction. “Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum,” Jaishankar told Wang.

The minister also suggested that bilateral meetings be held regularly. He highlighted measures towards normalising people-to-people exchanges which can certainly foster cooperation.

Stable and constructive ties between India and China are best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, the minister said. He reminded Wang that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict.

Jaishankar is on a visit to China from July 13 to 15 — his first trip to the neighbouring country since the military standoff began in May 2020.