Foreign Minister Jaishankar allays fears over 'rise of China'

Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar while addressing a virtual session of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum remarked that issues with China will be resolved bilaterally and in a positive way. He added the developments in Afghanistan will have a significant impact on India and the rest of the world

New Delhi:During a virtual session of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on Thursday, India made it clear that it would like to resolve all issues with China in a bilateral manner. When asked about New Delhi's stand dealing with 'China’s rise' and the formation of QUAD, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar during a virtual meeting with US Ambassador to India Frank Wisner on Thursday said," I want to make one thing clear - Quad is a peaceful resolution, it's not against somebody. It's important not to be railroaded into some kind of negative discourse & we should not fall for it. We should be positive.

"In many ways, they are bilateral choices we have to make. China is such a big player, salient in the international economy... What are my problems would not be the same as yours, but there should not be some kind of 'ganging up'," the EAM further said, adding that on a global level Beijing's movement needs to be accessed and responded to by countries based on their interests and concerns.

Jaishankar on Afghanistan issue

Amid the fast-changing situation in Afghanistan, the top Indian diplomat said that India doesn't have the luxury to sit back and look at a "tumultuous" situation in the region. "I think when we look at what happened in Afghanistan and the region, this is going to have a very significant consequence on us and the rest of the world.

When we look to the east of India towards the Indo Pacific. The importance of ensuring that life goes on basis of broad principles and the concepts that the international community is comfortable with. And that the choices made in the region, not by us, and by our neighbours as well, should be supportive of a much more multipolar, democratic and much more rebalanced global situation." Jaishankar said, as quoted by ANI.

He further emphasised that it is important for India that its prosperity and growth should become a lifting tide for the region. "There is plenty to do and we are at it," he added.