Manila, July 22: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, discussing India-China relations, border stability and key regional and global developments.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Politburo, met Jaishankar as both leaders reviewed progress in bilateral engagement and explored ways to strengthen ties.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to assess the current state of India-China relations and exchange views on important international issues.
“Our participation in the EAS and the ASEAN Regional Forum not only provides an occasion to exchange views collectively, but also hold this bilateral meeting,” Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister noted that relations between the two countries have been gradually normalising following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2024.
He said the positive trajectory was reaffirmed during the leaders’ subsequent meeting in Tianjin last year.
Jaishankar stressed that a stable India-China relationship must be based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, adding that such an approach would contribute to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world.
On the boundary issue, he reiterated that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain essential for normal bilateral relations.
“Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that important objective,” he said.
The Minister also underlined that differences between the two neighbours should not be allowed to escalate into disputes, saying diplomacy must continue to manage them responsibly.
Welcoming recent confidence-building measures, Jaishankar cited the resumption of direct flights, updated visa arrangements, the restart of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, and the resumption of border trade as positive developments.
At the same time, he said several issues require continued engagement, including fair market access, trade imbalances, supply chain concerns, and facilitating greater official and people-to-people exchanges.
Jaishankar also appreciated China’s support for BRICS initiatives during India’s chairship of the grouping, saying the evolving global situation makes regular dialogue between the two countries increasingly important.
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