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China assured India it would address concerns related to fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel boring machines during Wang Yi’s talks with EAM S Jaishankar.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Photo: PTI)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has assured External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that China would address the country’s concerns for fertilisers, rare earths and tunnel boring machines, sources told CNN-News18.
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The development comes amid Yi’s talks with the External Affairs Minister during his two-day visit to India, which began on Monday.
The same day, EAM Jaishankar conveyed to Yi that India and China should adopt a “candid and constructive” approach in moving ahead in the engagement after a difficult period, and it must be based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
In his televised opening remarks at a meeting with Wang, the External Affairs Minister also pitched for taking forward the de-escalation process in the border areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that witnessed over a four-year face-off between the militaries of the two nations.
In his comments, Jaishankar also mentioned the fight against terrorism as another “major priority” and brought up “particular concerns” he had flagged during his visit to Beijing last month.
Wang’s visit is largely seen as part of ongoing efforts by the two neighbours to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
“Having seen a difficult period in our relationship, our two nations now seek to move ahead. This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides,” the External Affairs Minister said.
Wang Yi is in India primarily to hold a fresh round of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary question with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The SR talks will be held on Tuesday.
Wang and Doval are the designated special representatives for the boundary talks.
“This (SR talks) is very important because the basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.
In the SR talks, both sides are expected to deliberate on new confidence-building measures besides reviewing the overall situation along the LAC.
Though the two sides disengaged troops from the friction points, they are yet to de-escalate the situation by pulling back the frontline forces from the border.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the eastern Ladakh region.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020, and the clashes at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in bilateral ties.
The face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21 last year.
In the last few months, the two sides also initiated a number of initiatives to rebuild the ties that included the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and New Delhi restarting the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals.
ALSO READ | Jaishankar Meets Chinese FM, Looks To Move Past ‘Difficult Period’
About the Author
Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, …Read More
Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, … Read More
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