External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met on Friday to resolve important bilateral issues such as ensuring peace on the border, restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, enhancing air connectivity, and regulating trans-border rivers.
The talks were held on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers' meet in Johannesburg—their second since the disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh was finished last November. The negotiations come as there is continuous diplomatic work towards addressing India-China challenges.
Jaishankar posted information regarding the meeting on X, saying, "The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg offered the chance to have a meeting with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China this morning on its sidelines." He also posted pictures of the interaction.
Randhir Jaiswal, a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, said the ministers met for approximately 30 minutes and discussed bilateral developments since their previous interaction. "The issues discussed included border peace and tranquillity, the opening up of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, issues related to trans-border rivers, flight connectivity and travel facilitation. There was also a exchange of views regarding G20 and SCO issues," he said.
Jaishankar, while making his initial statement, emphasized the importance of the engagement in the face of bilateral relationship intricacies. "I am glad that we could meet today on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. These gatherings have provided an opportunity for dialogue even when our ties have faced challenges," he added.
Prioritizing India and China's initiative in international diplomacy, he underlined, "In a fragmented global context, both our countries have made an effort to continue to support the G20 institution. This underscores the value of global cooperation."
Looking back at diplomatic progress since their previous meeting in Rio during the G20 Summit in November 2024, Jaishankar said that there had been recent visits from India's Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor to China, on which border management and other details of bilateral relationships were discussed. "I am happy to proceed with our dialogue today," he further added.
Jaishankar also recognized India and China's influence in multilateral platforms such as the G20, SCO, and BRICS and said that discussions on regional and global concerns of common interest would be useful to both countries.
At a G20 session on 'Discussion on the Global Geopolitical Situation,' Jaishankar stated that the G20 represents the multipolarity of the world. "The global geopolitical situation is still challenging by any standards. This encompasses the cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, continued conflicts, financial stress, food security, and climate issues," he noted.
In the meantime, the non-attendance of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the G20 meeting also created a buzz.
Read also| China Acknowledges India's Growing Influence and Power in Asia
