New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Thursday met the Foreign Minister of China, Qin Gang, and discussed the ongoing military standoff between both the countries that began in April-May 2020. The minister also told his Chinese counterpart that there are “real problems” in the bilateral relationship. This is the first time Jaishankar and Qin met since the latter took charge of the portfolio. Prior to this, he was China’s Ambassador to the US. On Thursday both ministers met for 45 minutes on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
“It was our first meeting since he took over as Foreign Minister. Bulk of our conversation, understably, was about the current state of our relationship, which many of you have heard me describe as abnormal and those were among the adjectives that I used in the meeting. We have real problems in that relationship that need to be looked at that need to be discussed very openly and candidly between us and that's what we sought to do today," Jaishankar said addressing the media after the meeting was over.
He added, "The thrust of our meeting was on the bilateral relationship and the challenges in the bilateral relationship, especially that of peace and tranquility in the border areas."
ABP Live had earlier reported that both ministers will be meeting on the sides of the G20 ministerial and will also talk about the LAC situation.
“Met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of #G20FMM this afternoon. Our discussions were focused on addressing current challenges to the bilateral relationship, especially peace and tranquillity in the border areas. We also spoke about the G20 agenda,” Jaishankar said in a tweet after he met his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial Thursday.
Before coming to India, Qin had said that China “values its relationship” with India. He said both are “ancient civilizations" and that both are neighbors as well as emerging countries, therefore, both sides need to have “sound relationship”.
Xi Likely To Visit India In May
This was the first time a top official from the Xi Jinping administration is visiting India since China had its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, in which some core changes were done within the government even as President Xi, 69, won a third term for himself, essentially becoming China’s President for life.
Prior to this visit, Qin’s predecessor Wang Yi, who has now been promoted to a senior position in the government, had visited India in March 2022.
India and China got embroiled in a tough border standoff in the eastern sector of Ladakh in April-May 2020. However, since then the military on both sides have come face to face and even clashed with each other across several points at the LAC.
So far, 17 rounds of military-level talks have taken place between both countries. In 2021 and 2022, India and China disengaged from north and south banks of the Pangong Tso, Gogra and from Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) after the 16th round of military talks. Both sides will have to resolve Demchok, Depsang (PP 9 – 13) even as Chinese troops continue to block PP 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13.
President Xi is expected to visit India in May for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit that is expected to take place in May 4-5.