EAM S Jaishankar called for observing mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for an early resolution of all the outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Bali, Indonesia, EAM Jaishankar also used the opportunity to talk about the issue of Indian students' return to China and flights between the two two countries.

"Began my day in Bali by meeting FM Wang Yi of China. Discussion lasted one hour.

Focused on specific outstanding issues in our bilateral relationship pertaining to the border situation. Also spoke about other matters including students and flights," EAM Jaishankar tweeted.

"Shared perspectives on the international situation and its impact on the G20 deliberations," he added.

"Recalling the disengagement achieved in some friction areas, EAM reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) later said.

According to the MEA, he reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols, and the understandings reached between the two Ministers during their previous conversations.

In this regard, both Ministers affirmed that the military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue maintaining regular contact and looked forward to the next round of Senior Commanders’ meeting at an early date.

"EAM reiterated that India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests, the MEA said.

EAM Jaishankar also recalled his meeting with Chinese FM Wang Yi in Delhi in March this year and reviewed the progress of some key issues discussed then, including the return of students. He stressed the need for expediting the process and facilitating the return of students on an early date.

The two Ministers also exchanged perspectives on other regional and global developments.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi appreciated India’s support during China’s BRICS Chairship this year and assured China’s support for India’s upcoming G20 and SCO Presidency. They agreed to remain in touch, the MEA said.

Relations between India and China have been tense since the border stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh turned violent in Galwan Valley in June 2020. Twenty Indian soldiers had lost their lives while a large number of Chinese military personnel were killed in a violent face-off on June 15, 2020.

India has accused China of massing troops along the LAC in violation of agreements reached in 1993 and 1996.

The Chinese FM and India's EAM had earlier discussed the border situation on March 25 this year when the former had visited New Delhi.

In a special briefing after the meeting, Jaishankar had categorically stated that the situation along the border was "not normal".

"So long as there are very large deployments in the border areas which are violative of the 1993 and 1996 agreements, clearly the border area situation is not normal," Jaishankar pointed out.

"We still have friction areas. We have made a lot of progress in some other friction areas and Pangong Tso is notable in that regard". Friday's discussion was on how to take this forward, he added.

India and China have held 15 rounds of Commander level talks since the latest border stand-off began, the last two in January and March this year.

The two sides also hold regular talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). The WMCC last reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector areas at the 24th meeting on May 31.