Beijing/New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said India and China had made good progress in the past nine months for normalization of bilateral relations because of resolution of the friction along the border and the ability to maintain peace and tranquility there.
In his opening remarks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the External Affairs Minister said this is the fundamental basis for the mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations. It is now incumbent on both countries to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation, he added.
He said both countries had earlier agreed that “differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict”. “On this foundation, we can now continue to develop our ties along a positive trajectory,’’ he added.
Dr Jaishankar said that as neighbouring countries and major economies in the world today, there are various facets and dimensions of India-China bilateral relations. Measures towards normalizing people–to–people exchanges can certainly foster mutually beneficial cooperation.
He said it is also essential that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided and hoped to discuss these issues further in detail.
The External Affairs Minister said the India-China bilateral relationship required that both countries take a far-seeing approach to bilateral ties. Since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Kazan in October 2024, the relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction.
“Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum,’’ he said.
Dr Jaishankar said that both he and his Chinese counterpart have had several opportunities to meet at international events and carry out strategic communication. He hoped that this would now be regular and take place in each other’s countries.
Pointing out that stable and constructive ties between the two countries were not only to their mutual benefit but that of the world as well, he said this was best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.
This year both countries are marking the 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.
He said India appreciates that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed after a gap of five years. He thanked China for their cooperation on this matter.
The meeting between Dr Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart today included an exchange of views on global and regional issues.
Tomorrow they will be meeting in the format of the SCO whose primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
“This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld,’’ Dr Jaishankar said.
Dr Jaishankar who is in China for participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting tomorrow, wished the Chinese side a successful SCO Presidency.
“We will be meeting tomorrow and India is committed to ensuring good outcomes and decisions,’’ he added.
Earlier Dr Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev.
During his meeting with the Chinese Vice President, he expressed confidence that his discussions with the Chinese leaders would maintain the “positive trajectory’’ in relations between New Delhi and Beijing. He said India-China relations had been steadily improving since Prime Minister Modi met Chinese President Xi in Kazan last October.
