India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar convened with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Kazakhstan. During their meeting, both parties concurred on expediting discussions to address border disputes promptly, as stated by New Delhi.
India and China share a lengthy, largely undefined Himalayan border. Their relationship has been strained since a military confrontation in July 2020, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops.
Jaishankar and Yi met on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana. They acknowledged that the continuation of the current border situation is not beneficial for either nation. The leaders agreed to intensify meetings between their diplomatic and military officials to resolve outstanding issues swiftly, according to India's foreign ministry.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who commenced his third consecutive term last month, emphasized in April the urgency for both countries to address the protracted border issues. Since 2020, both nuclear-armed nations have reinforced their border positions and deployed additional troops and equipment, maintaining a tense relationship that dates back to a violent border war in 1962.
New Delhi's statement highlighted Jaishankar's reiteration of the importance of adhering to past bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings between the two governments. The countries have previously committed to maintaining communication through military and diplomatic channels. Jaishankar also underscored the need for increased efforts to achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh and restore a sense of normalcy in their relations, the statement concluded.
