Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Jaishankar and Wang Prioritize
Ladakh Dispute Resolution as Conflict Enters Fifth Year

Image Credit: Minister of External Affairs (MEA)

Los Angeles/July 04, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

In a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both countries pledged to intensify efforts to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh and work towards stabilizing and rebuilding their ties. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border regions.

During the discussions in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jaishankar posted on X:

"Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end.

“Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties.”

The talks, which took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, saw Jaishankar stressing the need to fully adhere to existing bilateral agreements and protocols regarding the India-China border.
According to a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar and Wang had a thorough exchange on finding an early resolution to the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to "stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations".

MEA said:
India has consistently maintained that normalcy in relations with China is contingent on peace in the border areas. "Both ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to advance their discussions and resolve the remaining issues at the earliest."

The ministers agreed that prolonging the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either country. Jaishankar highlighted the need for complete disengagement from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh to restore peace and remove obstacles to the normalization of bilateral relations.

The Jaishankar-Wang meeting occurred amid the ongoing border standoff in eastern Ladakh, which entered its fifth year in May 2024. Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a standoff since May 2020, with full resolution yet to be achieved despite disengagement from several friction points.

Relations between India and China significantly deteriorated following the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The last round of high-level military talks in February aimed at resolving the row did not result in a breakthrough, but both sides agreed to maintain "peace and tranquility" and continue communication on the path forward.

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