Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s Xi Jinping welcomed the patrolling agreement announced this week that calls for “complete (military) disengagement” along the Line of Actual Control in the Himalayas as well as “resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in India”. The call has been made. -China border area”.
The phrase “complete disengagement” indicates that the two armies will return to the status quo before May 2020, that is, before the clashes, including the violent clashes at Galwan in Ladakh that led to the clash at Pangong on May 5 that killed 20 people. Indian soldiers were killed. Lake area.
The return to the pre-May 2020 status quo was also flagged by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who told NDTV that the patrolling agreement “creates a foundation for peace and tranquility on the border, which was there before 2020”. He said the agreement was reached because of “patient and sustained diplomacy.”
Read | “Back to 2020…”: S Jaishankar tells NDTV on India, China deal
Meanwhile, in another significant move, special representatives from both sides – India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi – will soon meet to “explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the border question”. Can meet.
Mr Doval and Mr Yi have not met as special representatives since 2019.
These points were announced in a statement following the first bilateral meeting of PM Modi and President Jinping after the May 2020 clashes; They met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed to his Chinese counterpart the “importance of properly handling differences and disputes” and not letting them deteriorate relations.
Read | “Peace on the border should be a priority,” the prime minister told Xi Jinping in Russia.
The two leaders also recognized that “stable, predictable and cordial bilateral relations between the two largest countries on earth… will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity” and will also contribute to a multi-polar Asian. And the global community.
Therefore, India and China underlined the need to advance bilateral relations, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges.
In statements ahead of the bilateral talks, Mr Modi told the Chinese leader, “It should be our priority to ensure that there is peace and stability on our border”, and stressed the need for “mutual trust, mutual respect”.
Mr Jinping pointed to India and China’s ancient historical ties and current status as leading developing countries and members of the Global South, and said, “Maintaining the trend of history serves the best interest of our countries and peoples. Does.”
Today’s meeting between PM Modi and President Jinping came less than 72 hours after the patrolling agreement – which was followed by the announcement of continued talks at the military and diplomatic levels.
Read | India to resume patrolling in Ladakh after major success with China
The agreement was seen as a major step towards reducing tensions in the region, where both sides have amassed thousands of troops and weapons over the past four years.
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