'Redouble Efforts To Resolve Border Issues': Jaishankar After Meet With Chinese Counterpart At SCO Summit

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 between by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State summit in Astana on Thursday.

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 stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations and agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to restore border peace.

The Foreign Ministers emphasised respect for the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) and talked about ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

“EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and 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 interest- to guide Indo-China bilateral ties.

The leaders also agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (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 4. The meeting is expected to draw focus on the regional security situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade.

Generally, the Indian prime minister participates in the SCO summit.

In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev India’s full support for the success of the summit.

Kazakhstan is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair 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.