External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said a stable and cooperative relationship between India and China, based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, could make a “valuable contribution” to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world, while stressing that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the normalisation of bilateral ties.
Jaishankar made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Manila.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress in bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments.
“Since the meeting of our leaders in Kazan in October 2024, relations between India and China have been gradually normalising. This direction was further affirmed when they met in Tianjin last August,” he said.
“We believe that a stable and cooperative relationship can best be developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. Such a relationship can make a valuable contribution to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world,” the External Affairs Minister added.
Jaishankar underscored that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas was a prerequisite for normal bilateral ties.
“Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is obviously the prerequisite for normal ties,” he said, adding that both sides had engaged since the leaders’ meeting in Kazan to advance this objective and that the relevant bilateral mechanisms should receive “full support and strong encouragement.”
Noting that India and China are two large neighbouring countries with their own national interests, Jaishankar said differences should be managed through dialogue and should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.
“It is natural that as two large and important nations, and that too proximate neighbours, India and China would have their own particular interests. That is why our leaders had agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them,” he said.
Welcoming recent steps towards normalisation, Jaishankar cited the resumption of direct flights, updates to the visa regime, the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the resumption of border trade.
He, however, said several issues still require attention, including fair market access, trade balance, supply chain predictability, and facilitating official and people-to-people exchanges.
“We also need to agree on the meetings of various mechanisms and platforms as per our mutual priorities,” he said.
Jaishankar also appreciated China’s support for various BRICS initiatives during India’s chairmanship of the grouping this year.
“India is the chair of BRICS this year. Let me take the opportunity to appreciate the support that China has given to various BRICS activities and initiatives during our chairship,” he said.
Describing the global situation as “extremely complicated”, Jaishankar said the meeting provided a timely opportunity to exchange views on key international issues.
The External Affairs Minister is in the Philippines for a two-day visit to participate in the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, besides holding bilateral meetings with counterparts from several countries.
(With ANI inputs)
