National Security Advisor Ajit Doval engaged in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their recent discussions in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have pledged to collaborate on improving bilateral relations during a meeting held in Russia on September 13, 2024. The Foreign Ministry released this information following their discussions.
During their talks at the BRICS security officials’ summit in St. Petersburg, the two representatives reviewed progress on ongoing consultations concerning border issues, highlighting a shared commitment to manage these tensions.
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Both leaders serve as Special Representatives for India-China border discussions, reinforcing their crucial roles in diplomatic efforts.
They underscored the importance of stability in India-China relations, viewing it as essential for the long-term interests of their nations and beneficial for regional peace and development.
China and India expressed their intent to implement the consensus reached by their respective leaders, aiming to enhance mutual understanding, establish trust, and maintain regular communication to strengthen bilateral ties.
Wang Yi, a senior member of the Communist Party of China, emphasized that in a complex global environment, both nations, rich in ancient civilization, should promote unity and cooperation while avoiding mutual confrontation.
Wang articulated hope for a pragmatic approach in handling differences, suggesting both sides seek productive relations and aim to stabilize interactions for sustainable development.
A press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicated that India and China agreed to prioritize the complete disengagement of remaining conflict zones in eastern Ladakh during discussions on September 12, 2024.
“During the meeting, Doval conveyed to Wang that peace and tranquility in border regions, as well as adherence to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), are vital for restoring normalcy in bilateral relations,” the MEA noted.
This meeting between Doval and Wang was part of a larger BRICS gathering of national security advisors and provided an important moment to assess the ongoing efforts to resolve outstanding issues.
The MEA also highlighted the significance of the India-China relationship for not just the two nations but for regional and global stability as well.
This high-level dialogue occurred two weeks after a similar meeting focused on enhancing diplomatic and military communications to address unresolved issues.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in Geneva that approximately 75% of the “disengagement problems” with China had been resolved, but concerns remain regarding the militarization in border areas.
The standoff between Indian and Chinese military forces has persisted since May 2020, with significant but incomplete progress in resolving border disputes despite multiple disengagements from various friction points.
Relations between India and China have strained significantly since the violent clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, which marked a severe military confrontation in recent history.
India maintains that any normalization of relations with China is contingent upon ensuring peace along the border.
To date, 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have been conducted to address the ongoing standoff.
Published – September 13, 2024 01:04 pm IST
