'No Normalisation In Ties Without Peace On Border': Jaishankar Tells Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi During Talks

The normalisation in relations between India and China can't be achieved unless peace and tranquillity is restored on the border, External Affairs Minister (EMA) S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a three-hour-long meeting in New Delhi earlier today.

In a presser after the talks, the minister said that the two sides had an "open and candid" discussion on the state of the relationship.

"I would describe the current situation as work in progress, obviously at a slower pace than desirable," Jaishankar told media.

"The impact of the tensions in border areas on the overall relationship has been visible in the last two years. This is only natural since peace and tranquility in the border areas have been the foundation of stable and cooperative ties," the EAM said.

The minister noted that he was "very honest" during the talks with the Chinese foreign minister, "especially in conveying our national sentiments on this [India-China standoff in Ladakh] issue".

"The frictions and tensions that arise from China's deployments in April 2020 can't be reconciled with a normal relationship between two neighbours," Jaishankar said at the press conference.

"The India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, mutual interest," he added.

In a visit that remains shrouded in mystery and secrecy, Wang arrived in New Delhi from Kabul late on Thursday (24 March). This is the first visit of a senior Chinese leader to India since the troops of the two sides clashed in the Galvan River Valley in June 2020, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number (significantly more than India's losses by multiple accounts) of People's Liberation Army soldiers.

While the two sides have disengaged at some of the friction points in eastern Ladakh, including the Pangong Lake and the Kailash Range, the standoff continues in some areas like Hots Springs.

Ahead of his visit to India, the Chinese foreign minister was in Pakistan to attend a two-day gathering of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where he made remarks on Kashmir.

"On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope," Wang said.

India had rejected China's "uncalled reference" and reminded China "that India refrains from a public judgment of their internal issues".