India and China held a discussion on issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and agreed to redouble efforts to restore border peace. The meeting was held between External Affairs Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of the State Summit in Astana on July 4, 2024.
The two leaders exchanged views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations and agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to restore border peace. The foreign ministers of both states emphasised respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and talked about ensuring peace and tranquillity in border areas.
“Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble the efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end. Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in border areas in essential. The three mutuals, mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests will guide our bilateral ties,” said the MEA in a post on X.
“EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations,” stated the MEA. The two leaders also talked about the three mutuals, mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests to guide Indo-China bilateral ties.
The two leaders also agreed that the Working Mechanism om Consultation and Coordination on the India-China (WMCC) should hold an early meeting to resolve the remaining border issues at the earliest. Jaishankar is representing India at the SCO Summit in Astana, which is being held on July 3 and July 4. The meeting is expected to draw focus on the regional situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade.
Generally, the Indian PM Narendra Modi participates in the SCO Summit. In a phone conversation on July 2, 2024, Prime Minister conveyed to Kazakhstan President Kassym Jomart Tokayev India’s full support for the success of the Summit. Kazakhstan in its capacity as the current of the grouping. India was the chair of the SCO last year. It hosted the SCO Summit in the virtual format in July last year.
India and China have been in a military standoff for the last three years since May 2020, when the Chinese tried to aggressively alter the status quo on the Line of Actual Control. Amid border tensions, Meanwhile Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation in Kazakhstan to attend the 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Head of States (SCO Summit).
