'Avoid Shifting Goalposts', Says India's Ambassador To China On Border Row

The Ambassador said that the importance of bilateral ties has been amplified in view of the challenges including the covid-19 pandemic, reviving economies and sweeping technological transformations.

India's Ambassador to China Mr Vikram Misri. (Source: Twitter/@IndiaInShanghai)

New Delhi: India's Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, urged China to avoid shifting goalposts as they prove to be obstacles in the way of progress. While speaking at a virtual conference organized by a Chinese University, the Ambassador said that the importance of Indo-China relations has been amplified in view of the challenges including the covid-19 pandemic, reviving economies and sweeping technological transformations.

As per the ANI report, the Ambassador said that in view of the recent experiences between India and China suggests that finding a resolution to manage a difficult situation at a ground level depends on mature minds and consistency between words and actions.

"The first is to avoid shifting goalposts. For a long, the Indian and Chinese sides have adhered to a well-understood distinction between resolving the boundary question and managing border affairs," Mr Misri was quoted by ANI in its report.

While referring to the pre-existing mechanism, agreements and protocols that have helped both the countries to manage border disputes, the Ambassador said, "...For managing border affairs on a daily basis, we evolved a mechanism, consisting of instruments such as the WMCC and a succession of agreements, protocols and CBMs, in order to govern behaviour on the ground and ensure peace and tranquillity."

Based on the established agreements, protocols and mechanisms, a serious decision needs to be taken in order to attain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. A serious decision "naturally requires us to apply our minds," Mr Misri added.

"As EAM (External Affairs Minister) Dr S Jaishankar has stated, India-China relations must proceed on the basis of the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests," Mr Misri said.

The virtual conference was also attended by a Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong.

(With inputs from Agencies)