India China talk on complete disengagement on LAC at SCO

Astana: External Affairs Minister (EAM) met Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Political Bureau and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi on 04 July 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the SCO Meeting of the Council of Heads of State. The two Ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.

The two Ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations. He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always ensured.

Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. EAM reiterated that India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on the global situation. EAM extended to FM Wang Yi India’s support for China’s Presidency of SCO next year.