BEIJING: Phone call between External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of China, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi

BEIJING: The External Affairs Minister
and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, had a
phone conversation last week. It lasted 75 minutes. The two Foreign Ministers
discussed the situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and also issues related
to overall India-China relations.

EAM
referred to the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister in September 2020 in
Moscow where Indian side had expressed its concern on provocative behavior and
unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter status quo. He noted that the
bilateral relations have been impacted severely over last year. EAM said that
Boundary Question may take time to resolve but disturbance of peace and
tranquility including by violence, will inevitably have a damaging impact on
the relationship.

EAM said
that during their meeting in Moscow last year, both Ministers had agreed that
the situation in the border areas was not in the interest of either side and
decided that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue,
quickly disengage and ease tensions. EAM noted that the two sides had
maintained continuous communication since then through both the diplomatic and
military channels. This had led to progress as both sides had successfully
disengaged in the Pangong Tso Lake area earlier this month.

Noting
the completion of disengagement in Pangong Lake area, EAM emphasized that both
sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern
Ladakh. EAM said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points,
then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the
area and work towards restoration of peace and tranquility.

State
Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on his part,expressed satisfaction at
the progress made so far. It was an important step forward for restoration of
peace and tranquility in border areas. He felt that both sides should make
efforts to consolidate outcomes. It was also necessary to sincerely implement
the common understanding reached at various levels. He spoke about the need to
improve management and control in the border areas.

EAM
highlighted that both sides had always agreed that maintenance of peace and
tranquility in border areas was essential basis for development of bilateral
relations. A prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of
either side. It was, therefore, necessary that the two sides should work
towards early resolution of remaining issues. It was necessary to disengage at
all friction points in order to contemplate de-escalation of forces in this
sector. That alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility and
provide conditions for progress of our bilateral relationship.

Foreign
Minister Wang Yi also noted that the Indian side had proposed ‘three mutuals’
(mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests) as the approach to
the relationship. He also agreed on the importance of taking the long view of
our ties. The two Ministers agreed to remain in touch and establish a hotline.