Ministry of External Affairs in its statement said on Friday that the Chinese had “noted” External Affairs Minister’s proposal of ‘three mutuals’ and agreed to have a hotline to remain in touch.
The foreign ministers of India and China spoke for 75 minutes on Thursday to discuss the disengagement process along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and also issues related to India-China relations cooperation and conflict.
A statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry, said the two ministers, S Jaishankar and Wang Yi, decided to establish a ‘hotline’ to ensure timely communication. External Affairs Ministry of India also issued a statement saying, “Spoke to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi this afternoon [i.e on Thursday]. Discussed the implementation of our Moscow Agreement and reviewed the status of disengagement.” EAM S Jaishankar tweeted the same
The statement issued by MEA has focused on seven points to enhance a smooth relation between India and China.
As per MOFA India:
The External Affairs Minister and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, had a phone conversation yesterday afternoon. It lasted 75 minutes. The two Foreign Ministers discussed the situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and also issues related to overall India-China relations.
EAM referred to the meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in September 2020 in Moscow where Indian side had expressed its concern on provocative behavior and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter status quo. He noted that the bilateral relations have been impacted severely over last year. EAM said that Boundary Question may take time to resolve but disturbance of peace and tranquility including by violence, will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship.
EAM said that during their meeting in Moscow last year, both Ministers had agreed that the situation in the border areas was not in the interest of either side and decided that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage and ease tensions. EAM noted that the two sides had maintained continuous communication since then through both the diplomatic and military channels. This had led to progress as both sides had successfully disengaged in the Pangong Tso Lake area earlier this month.
Noting the completion of disengagement in Pangong Lake area, EAM emphasized that both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. EAM said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards restoration of peace and tranquility.
State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on his part,expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far. It was an important step forward for restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas. He felt that both sides should make efforts to consolidate outcomes. It was also necessary to sincerely implement the common understanding reached at various levels. He spoke about the need to improve management and control in the border areas.
EAM highlighted that both sides had always agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential basis for development of bilateral relations. A prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was, therefore, necessary that the two sides should work towards early resolution of remaining issues. It was necessary to disengage at all friction points in order to contemplate de-escalation of forces in this sector. That alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility and provide conditions for progress of our bilateral relationship.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi also noted that the Indian side had proposed ‘three mutuals’ (mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests) as the approach to the relationship. He also agreed on the importance of taking the long view of our ties. The two Ministers agreed to remain in touch and establish a hotline
While both sides asserted that there was a need to ensure that the current “hard-won situation” is maintained, there was a need to further world on “de-escalation” of troops in other friction points along the border. However, the two sides agreed that border issues are not the whole of China-India relations and should be placed in an appropriate position in bilateral relations. Both sides also agreed according to MEA that “A prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was, therefore, necessary that the two sides should work towards early resolution of remaining issues.”The two sides decided to work in the general direction of joint development of the two emerging economies, move forward side by side instead of restraining each other.
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