New Delhi: The delegation-level talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House concluded here on Friday, with the EAM Jaishankar tagging the meeting as an 'extensive exchange that lasted for about three hours, wherein the delegates 'addressed a broad substantive agenda openly and candidly.'
While addressing the media post the meeting, the EAM said that he has been 'honest with his talks with the FM Wang Yi' and that the meeting established India's position concerning the 'friction area' amid the Indio-Chinese border disputes. "The current situation is a 'Work in Progress, obviously, at a slower pace than desirable. This needs to be taken forward since completion of the disengagement (at LAC) is necessary," he said while talking to the journalists. The EAM also emphasized that India intends to establish stable ties and end disputes without force.
"The occasion provided an opportunity to exchange views on major international issues, including Afghanistan and Ukraine," said S Jaishankar on his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In the meeting, we extensively discussed our bilateral relations that have been disturbed as a result of Chinese actions in April 2020," he added.
"Our relationship with China, at present, is not normal, given the presence of a large number of troops in contravention of the 1993-96 agreements. Although there has been some progress in resolving some friction areas including Pangong Tso. Our discussion today was about how we may take this forward. There have been 15 rounds of talks so far," he said.
The EAM further said that the occasion provided an opportunity to exchange views on major international issues, including Afghanistan and Ukraine. "In the meeting, we extensively discussed our bilateral relations that have been disturbed as a result of Chinese actions in April 2020. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, India's policy is guided by the UN Security Council Resolution 2593. On Ukraine, we discussed our respective approaches & perspective but agreed that diplomacy and dialogue must be the priority," he added.
Speaking about the controversial remarks on Kashmir that the Chinese FM had made during his address to the OIC conference in Islamabad recently, the EAM said, "It did come up. I explained to him why we found that statement objectionable. The subject was discussed at some length, there was also a larger context to it." He further added that he has conveyed to the FM that India hopes for China to follow an independent policy with respect to India and to not allow its policies to be influenced by other countries and relationships.
Clarifying that there was no discussion on Quad meet with the FM, Jaishankar said that he strongly took up the predicament of Indian students studying in China who haven't been allowed to return citing COVID restrictions. "We hope China will take a non-discriminatory approach since it involves the future of many young people," he said, further informing that the FM has reassured action through the relevant authorities in the matter.
Before the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister visited National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's office in South Block, after landing in New Delhi on Thursday. In this meeting, both sides emphasized the need to continue positive interactions at diplomatic and military levels for the restoration of peace - a prerequisite for the normalization of bilateral relations. The key objective of Wang's visit was to restart physical engagement and also invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the BRICS meet to be hosted by Beijing later this year.
Also read: Chinese FM Wang Yi holds talks with EAM Jaishankar for delegation-level talks
