India-China ties: No breakthrough after Wang, Jaishankar discuss border, students' re-entry

Tribune News Service

Sandeep Dikshit

New Delhi, July 7

Another attempt to revive India-China ties ended in an apparent stalemate as there was no fresh Chinese response to resolving the border stalemate or the re-entry of Indian students during an hour-long meeting between Foreign Ministers S Jaishankar and Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Ministerial in Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday.

“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 had tweeted after the meeting.

“The Minister called for an early resolution of all outstanding issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh,” said a MEA statement.

The MEA said Jaishankar also recalled his meeting with Wang Yi in Delhi in March and reviewed the progress of the return of students. “The EAM stressed the need for expediting the process and facilitating the return of students on an early date,” it said.

“He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols, and the understandings reached between the two ministers during their previous conversations.

“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 added.

“The China-India border area is generally stable at the moment. The two sides have the will and capability of jointly maintaining peace and tranquillity in the China-India border areas,” said the Chinese MFA.

Jaishankar also reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests. The ‘three mutuals’ were last mentioned by Jaishankar in January.

India and China had in September 2020 agreed on a five-point approach following talks between their Foreign Ministers.

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