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By Geeta Mohan: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa. S Jaishankar said the focus of the meeting was on “resolving outstanding issues” and “ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas”.
EAM S Jaishankar and China’s foreign minister Qin Gang had met in March on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ in the national capital.
The meeting of the two leaders assumes significance given the border row between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)- which began three years ago with the Galwan valley clash in 2020.
Jaishankar introduced India’s views on India-China relations, and said that India and China need to strengthen cooperation in many aspects. The Indian side hopes to continue to seek to maintain peace and stability in the border area through consultations with the Chinese side, he said.
‘CURRENT BORDER SITUATION STABLE’
Qin Gang pointed out that the current situation on the China-India border is “generally stable”. The two sides should continue to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate existing achievements, strictly abide by relevant agreements and agreements, promote the further cooling and easing of the border situation, and maintain sustainable peace and tranquility in the border areas, the Chinese foreign minister said.
Qin Gang also said that India and China should explore a road to peaceful and friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation, reported news agency PTI.
“A detailed discussion with State Councillor and FM Qin Gang of China on our bilateral relationship. Focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” he said.
Jaishankar said the discussions were also held on issues relating to the SCO, G20 and BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).
Qin maintained that China and India, as the two most populous developing countries in the world, are both in a critical period of modernisation.
He said both countries should draw lessons from history, approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, respect, learn from and make achievements from each other, and embark on a new path of harmonious coexistence, peaceful development and common rejuvenation among major neighbours, so as to lend impetus to national rejuvenation and inject stability and positive energy into world peace and development.
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‘CHINA READY TO WORK WITH INDIA’
“China is ready to work with India to carry out bilateral consultations and exchanges, enhance dialogue and cooperation under multilateral frameworks, deepen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues and bring China-India relations back to the track of sound and stable development,” the statement from Chinese foreign ministry read.
Qin Gang said China supports India in hosting a successful SCO summit and hopes that India, as the rotating chair, will play a positive role for the success of the summit in the spirit of unity and coordination.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, the press release added.
WHAT DID JAISHANKAR DISCUSS WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART?
Foreign minister S Jaishankar also met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the SCO meeting in Goa and they went for a “comprehensive review” of “bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation”.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Jaishankar wrote, “Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia.Appreciated Russia’s support for India’s SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS.” (sic)
This is the second time that the Russian Foreign Minister has been in India this year. Sergey Lavrov was in New Delhi in March for the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister also met his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in Goa.
“The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as BRICS, G20, and the United Nations, oppose all forms of hegemony, safeguard the common interests of emerging market countries and developing countries, and safeguard international fairness and justice,” a joint statement from China and Russia read.
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(With PTI inputs)
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