News Analysis India

Tag: Wang Yi

  • Jaishankar hopes for early resolution of all outstanding issues along LAC

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A day after China criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greeting Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi in Bali, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meet.

    “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,” Dr Jaishankar said in a tweet.

    The two sides discussed resolving the border standoff that began in April 2020.

    The EAM called for an early resolution of all the outstanding issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Recalling the disengagement achieved in some friction areas he reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, according to a statement released by the MEA.

    The last diplomatic level talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on 31 May 2022. Jaishankar reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

    Further, Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols and the understandings reached between the two ministers during their previous conversations. Both the ministers also 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. 

    He also stressed the need to expedite the process of Indian students returning to China to complete their courses offline at an early date. “We also spoke about other matters including the return of students and flights,’’ tweeted Jaishankar.

    Meanwhile, India is taking over the G20 presidency in December this year and will host the G20 Summit in 2023. China had in the recent past objected to reports of India hosting some of the G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir. “A large number of G20 events will be held across India, there is no need to speculate where,” said MEA’s spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. 

    There are many events that are held before the summit. These include ministerial meetings, governmental meetings and some non-governmental meetings too. The venues of all these meetings can vary. Jaishankar, during the course of the day, also met his counterparts from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia and Senegal.

  • Lavrov visit: Oil payment system may figure in talks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is likely to visit India this week amid Russia’s isolation by the West over the ongoing war against Ukraine.  The focus of the visit is expected to be discussions on a payment system for India’s procurement of oil and military hardware from Russia. 

    Lavrov’s visit comes days after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s unscheduled visit to New Delhi. It is learnt that Lavrov will arrive here after concluding a two-day visit to China. It would be the highest-level visit from Russia to India after Moscow launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24. There has been no official word on the visit by either side.

    India is likely to import nearly 10 million tonnes of crude oil from Russia at a discount of $20 per barrel. The state-run oil companies have committed to buy 6 million tonnes while private firms are negotiating for importing 4 million tonnes. 

    It is understood that India is working on a rupee-rouble exchange, which would allow it and Russia to carry out financial operations by bypassing the US dollar. The Centre is working on a proposal to permit five nationalised Indian banks to engage in the rouble trade.

    “It may be a diplomatic tight-rope for India as it has favourable relations with US too, but with the increase in crude price globally this is a viable option for India as it does not want to burden the consumers with a steep hike in the cost of fuel,” say sources.

    The Ministry of External Affairs, on the issue of India importing oil from Russia, had said that many European nations were still buying oil from Russia, so India wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary.

  • Eastern Ladakh situation a work in progress: Jaishankar after talks with Wang Yi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The current situation between India and China on the eastern Ladakh issue is “a work in progress” but moving at a slower place than desirable, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

    He asserted that the restoration of normal ties will require normalcy in border areas.

    Addressing a press conference after talks with Wang, Jaishankar noted that 15 rounds of talks between senior military commanders have taken place over the eastern Ladakh standoff and pointed out that progress has been achieved on several friction points from the disengagement perspective.

    “This needs to be taken forward since completion of disengagement is necessary for discussions on de-escalation to take place. I would describe our current situation as a work in progress, obviously at a slower place than desirable, and my discussions with Foreign Minister Wang were aimed at expediting that process,” the external affairs minister said.

    The impact of border tensions on the overall ties has been visible in the last two years, he said. “This is only natural since peace and tranquillity in the border areas have been the foundation of stable and cooperative ties,” Jaishankar said.

    He said his nearly three-hour talks with Wang addressed a broad and substantive agenda in an open and candid manner.

    Jaishankar said he discussed with Wang bilateral relations that have been disturbed due to Chinese actions since April 2020. “I was honest in conveying our sentiment on this issue during talks with Wang Yi,” Jaishankar said while referring to the eastern Ladakh standoff.

    Frictions and tensions arising from China’s deployments since April 2020 cannot be reconciled with a normal relationship between two neighbours, he asserted.

    Asked whether terrorism emanating from Pakistan figured in the talks, Jaishankar said the issue came up. Wang, who holds the rank of state councillor, arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening from Kabul.

  • Early and complete disengagement in Ladakh necessary for India-China ties: Doval to Wang Yi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In talks with Chinese FM Wang Yi, NSA Ajit Doval on Friday called for early and complete disengagement in remaining areas in eastern Ladakh, as per sources.

    He also pressed for ensuring that actions do not violate spirit of equal and mutual security, while resolving outstanding issues as quickly as possible.

    Doval also told Wang restoration of peace in border areas will help build trust, create enabling environment for progress in ties.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday also held wide-ranging talks with his Chinese counterpart.

    Ahead of the talks, Jaishankar tweeted, “Greeted Chinese FM Wang Yi at Hyderabad House. Our discussions commence shortly.”

    There had been no official announcement or word on the visit.

    “Greeted Chinese FM Wang Yi at Hyderabad House.

    Our discussions commence shortly,” Jaishankar tweeted in the first official comment by India on the Chinese foreign minister’s trip.

    Ahead of talks with Jaishankar, Wang met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

    There was no official comment on the meeting.

    The border issue is understood to have figured prominently in the meeting as both Wang and Doval have been serving as Special Representatives (SR) for boundary talks between the two countries.

    Doval and Wang held a lengthy telephonic conversation in July 2020 and the talks focused on bringing down tension in eastern Ladakh.

    Jaishankar and Wang have met in Moscow and Tajik capital Dushanbe on the sidelines of multilateral events in the last one-and-a-half years.

    But this is the first high-level visit between India and China after their ties came under severe strain following the border standoff in eastern Ladakh nearly two years ago.

    Ahead of the visit, India criticised Wang over his remarks on Kashmir at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Pakistan.

    For China, it is learnt, the visit is more to do with the geopolitical turmoil in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine than bilateral ties.

    However, the Indian side is unlikely to shift focus from the eastern Ladakh row.

    it is expected to press for complete disengagement of troops from all the friction points in the region for resumption of normal bilateral ties.

    India and China have been holding high-level military talks to resolve the face-off in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

    Both sides withdrew troops already from some of the friction points following the talks.

    On March 11, India and China held the 15th round of high-level military dialogue to resolve the pending issues in the eastern Ladakh region.

    However, there was no forward movement in the talks which were aimed at resolving the remaining issues.

    In September 2020, Jaishankar and Wang held extensive talks in Moscow on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during which they reached a five-point agreement to resolve the eastern Ladakh border row.

    The pact included quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.

    The two foreign ministers had held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of another SCO meeting in Dushanbe in July last year with a focus on the border row.

    They again met in Dushanbe in September.

    India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is key for the overall development of the bilateral ties.

    Recently, Wang said some forces have always sought to stoke tensions between China and India, an apparent reference to the US.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

  • No official word yet on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s possible visit to India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Deliberations between India and China over a possible visit here by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have gone down to the wire with neither side providing any clarity over it.

    Wang began a two-day trip to Pakistan on Tuesday primarily to attend a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a special guest.

    Nepal has already announced that he will visit Kathmandu from March 25 to 27. It was China that sent a proposal to India for a visit to New Delhi by Wang as part of his tour of the region, people familiar with the development had said last week.

    It is learnt that the two sides were looking at Wang’s visit to India during the window between his trip to Pakistan and Nepal and that it could take place on Thursday or Friday.

    There is no official comment or clarity on Wang’s proposed visit to India either by New Delhi or by Beijing yet.

    However, it was very clear that Wang’s comments on Kashmir at the OIC opening ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday have not gone down well in New Delhi with it strongly rejecting the remarks.

    In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday that other countries, including China, have no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters and that they should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues.

    If the visit takes place notwithstanding India’s strong reaction to Wang’s remarks, then it will be the first trip by a senior Chinese leader to India after the eastern Ladakh military standoff began in May 2020.

    In reflection of India’s consistent position on ties with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday apprised his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison about the situation in eastern Ladakh and emphasised that peace and tranquillity in the region is an essential prerequisite for normalisation of India’s ties with China.

    Modi made the comments at a virtual summit with the Australian prime minister.

    At the 14th India-Japan summit on Saturday, New Delhi conveyed to Tokyo the same line that its ties with Beijing cannot be business as usual until peace is restored in the eastern Ladakh region.

    India and China have held a series of diplomatic and military talks in the last one-and-half years to resolve the eastern Ladakh row.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Wang held several rounds of talks in Moscow and Dushanbe to defuse tensions in eastern Ladakh during the period.

    In September 2020, Jaishankar and Wang held extensive talks in Moscow on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during which they reached a five-point agreement to resolve the eastern Ladakh border row.

    The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.

    The two foreign ministers had held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of another SCO meeting in Tajik capital city Dushanbe in July last year with a focus on the border row.

    They again met in Dushanbe in September. India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was key for the overall development of the bilateral ties.

    Earlier this month, Wang said some forces have always sought to stoke tensions between China and India, in an apparent reference to the US.

    Wang’s proposed visit, if it takes place, is expected to provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on the crisis in Ukraine as well.

    On March 11, India and China held the 15th round of high-level military dialogue to resolve the pending issues in the eastern Ladakh region.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

  • Eastern Ladakh: Jaishankar calls for early resolution of remaining issues in talks with Wang Yi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the two sides should work for an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and that China avoid viewing its ties with India through the lens of a third country.

    In a meeting on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe on Thursday, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the current situation in the region and agreed that military and diplomatic officials of both sides should meet again and discuss resolving the remaining issues at the earliest.

    Jaishankar also told Wang that India had never subscribed to any “clash of civilisations theory” and that Asian solidarity would depend on the example set by India-China relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    He also said the two sides need to establish a relationship based on “mutual respect” for which it was necessary that China avoid viewing the ties with India from the perspective of its relations with third countries, it said.

    On Twitter, Jaishankar said: “It is also essential that China does not view its relations with India through the lens of a third country.

    ” While Jaishankar mentioned “a third country”, the statement by the MEA talked about “third countries”.

    It is learnt that the two sides also exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

    In a statement, the MEA said on Friday that the two ministers exchanged views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh as well as on global developments.

    It said Jaishankar underlined that it was necessary to ensure progress in the resolution of remaining issues so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in eastern Ladakh as such an atmosphere in the border areas has been an essential basis for progress in the bilateral relations.

    “In this regard, the ministers agreed that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should meet again and continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest,” the MEA said.

    “In this context, the external affairs minister (EAM) recalled that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had in their last meeting noted that the bilateral relations were at low ebb,” it said.

    The MEA said both sides in the previous meeting had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side as it was impacting the relationship in a negative manner.

    “The EAM, therefore, emphasised that the two sides should work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” the MEA said.

    “The external affairs minister noted that since their last meeting on July 14, the two sides had made some progress in the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and had completed the disengagement in Gogra area,” it said.

    However, there were still some outstanding issues that needed to be resolved,” it added.

    Wang and Jaishankar had held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of another conclave of the SCO in Dushanbe on July 14.

    In the meeting, Jaishankar told Wang that any unilateral change in the status quo along the LAC was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

    At Thursday’s meeting, the two ministers also exchanged views on the recent global developments.

    “The EAM conveyed that India had never subscribed to any clash of civilisations theory.

    He said that India and China had to deal with each other on merits and establish a relationship based on mutual respect,” the MEA said.

    “For this, it was necessary that China avoid viewing our bilateral relations from the perspective of its relations with third countries.

    Asian solidarity would depend on the example set by India-China relations,”it said.

    It said the ministers agreed to remain in touch.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in Gogra area last month.

    In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

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  • Ladakh row: Days after bilateral meet, India presses for early resolution of remaining issues

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday once again pressed China for early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols.

    At a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last week that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas was the foundation for the development of ties since 1988.

    Jaishankar and Wang held a one-hour meeting in Dushanbe on July 14 on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

    Bagchi said the two leaders agreed that the next round of commander level talks should be convened at the earliest where the two sides should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution.

    The spokesperson said Jaishankar recalled that both sides had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side and that it was visibly impacting the relationship in a negative manner.

    “The external affairs minister emphasized that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas has been the foundation for the development of ties since 1988. Attempts to change status quo last year, which also disregarded commitments under the 1993 and 1996 agreements, have inevitably affected ties,” Bagchi said.

    “It was, therefore, in mutual interest that the two sides work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” he said.

    Bagchi said there was also an understanding in the Jaishankar-Wang meeting that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension.

    India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

    The 12th round of military talks is likely to take place by July-end or in the first week of August.

  • Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as India keeps a close eye on PLA activities at LAC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday firmly conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was visibly impacting the bilateral ties in a “negative manner” and rued that there was no forward movement from the Chinese side since the disengagement in Pangong lake areas in February that had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.

    During a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of an SCO conclave in Dushanbe, the external affairs minister also told Wang that any unilateral change in the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

    The two foreign ministers agreed to hold the next round of military dialogue at the earliest and that it should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    The in-person meeting took place in the midst of a stalemate in the disengagement process between the two militaries in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh after they withdrew troops and weapons from the Pangong lake areas in February following series of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff.

    “The External Affairs Minister (EAM) recalled that both sides had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was visibly impacting the relationship in a negative manner,” the MEA said in a statement.

    Assessing the overall relationship, Jaishankar emphasised that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas has been the foundation for the development of ties since 1988.

    “The attempts to change status quo last year that also disregarded commitments under the 1993 and 1996 agreements have inevitably affected ties.”

    “He emphasized that it was, therefore, in mutual interest that the two sides work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” the MEA said.

    It was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Wang after their talks in Moscow on the sidelines of another SCO conclave in September last year.

    In the Moscow talks, both sides reached a five-point agreement to resolve the border row.

    The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.

    “Recalling their last meeting in Moscow, in September 2020, the External Affairs Minister emphasized the need to follow through on the agreement reached then and complete the disengagement, resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh at the earliest,” the MEA said.

    It said Jaishankar pointed out to Wang that the successful disengagement in the Pangong Lake Area earlier this year had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.

    “It was expected that the Chinese side would work with us towards this objective. The External Affairs Minister noted, however, that the situation in remaining areas is still unresolved,” the MEA said.

    It said the ministers agreed that the next round of military talks should be convened at the earliest.

    “They also agreed that in this meeting, the two sides should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution. There was also an understanding that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension,” the MEA said.

    In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on the outstanding issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

    The MEA said that the two ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations.

    “Concluded a one-hour bilateral meeting with State Councilor and FM Wang Yi of China on the sidelines of Dushanbe SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting.

    Discussions focused on the outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    He said full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was essential for the development of the bilateral ties.

    “Highlighted that unilateral change of status quo is not acceptable. Full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas is essential for development of our ties,” Jaishankar said.

    The MEA said the two Ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations.

    In the meeting, Jaishankar and Wang noted the agreement between both sides in the last round of talks at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on June 25 to hold another round of military talks.

    The MEA said the two ministers also agreed to remain in touch.

    India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

    According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector.

    India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

    There has been no attempt by the Indian or the Chinese side to occupy the areas in eastern Ladakh from where they disengaged in February and both sides are involved in talks to resolve the remaining issues in the region, the Indian Army said on Wednesday.

    The Army said it has been monitoring activities by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) including turnover of troops in the region.

    The Army stated this in a statement trashing a media report which claimed the Chinese military has again crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at several places and that there has been at least one incident of clash between the two sides.

    “Ever since the disengagement agreement in February this year, there has been no attempt by either side to occupy the areas from where the disengagement had been undertaken. There have been no clashes in Galwan or any other area, as reported in the article,” the Army said.

    It also said that the report mentioning that agreements with China have collapsed is “false and baseless”.

    “Both sides have continued with negotiations to resolve the balance issues, and regular patrolling in respective areas continues. The situation on the ground continues to be as hithertofore. PLA activities, including turnover of troops, continue to be monitored by the Indian Army,” the Army said.

    To a query about the Indian media report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that he was not aware of it.

    “I am not aware of the situation you mentioned,” Zhao said.

    India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

  • Jaishankar likely to meet Chinese foreign minister

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Dushanbe in Tajikistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers’ meeting. The two leaders last met on the sidelines of a similar meeting last September in Moscow, where they agreed on a five-point mechanism to ensure desecalation of tension and disengagement from friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

    According to sources, Jaishankar and Wang will discuss the security situation in Afghanistan and also the pending disengagement in Eastern Ladakh. Sources said the dates for the next round of senior military commanders meeting will be decided after the two foreign ministers meet.

    Jaishankar arrived in Dushanbe on Tuesday to attend the SCO meeting, following which, he will proceed to Uzbekistan for a regional connectivity conference on July 15 and 16. The minister will also share stage with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. However, officials have ruled out any one-on-one meeting between the two. The agenda of the SCO meet will predominantly be the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan and its effect on neighboring south and central Asia. 

    “The meeting will discuss the achievements of the organisation as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its formation in this year. It will also assess the preparation for the upcoming SCO Council of Heads of States and exchange views on current international and regional issues,” the ministry of external affairs stated.The SCO was founded in 2001 by Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is an eight-member bloc, of which India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. 

  • ‘China needs to keep open transport corridors, cargo flights’: Jaishankar to Wang

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday emphasised to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi the need for China to keep open transport corridors and cargo flights as various Indian entities are commercially procuring various products from suppliers in that country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Jaishankar brought up the issue during a telephonic conversation with Wang who conveyed to him China’s sympathy and solidarity with India in its fight against a severe wave of coronavirus pandemic.

    The telephonic talks between the two foreign ministers came on a day Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Highlighted the importance of supply chains and air flights being kept open in these circumstances. Welcomed his assurances in that regard, as also more openness to Indian chartered flights,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the call was initiated at the request of the Chinese side.

    “External Affairs Minister highlighted in this regard that Indian entities were already in the process of commercially procuring required products and raw materials from suppliers in China,” the MEA said.

    “The Minister said that this process would be facilitated if various transport corridors and cargo flights remained open and the necessary logistics support ensured expeditiously,” it said in a statement.

    There were reports of difficulties being faced by some US firms in sending medical shipments to India from China.

    Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said there was an impact on some of the supplies following suspension of flights by Sichuan Airlines.

    In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said: “Discussed the international cooperation aspects of the public health response to this difficult situation.”

    The MEA said Jaishankar emphasised that serious challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which had affected all countries, required serious international cooperation.

    “Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the COVID-19 as a common enemy of mankind and agreed that there was a need for coordination on a concerted response,” the MEA said in a statement.

    He said that China supported the efforts of the government of India and would ensure that all the required materials flow to Indian entities without any delay.

    “Chinese companies would be encouraged and supported to deliver requisite materials. Airports, customs and airlines would also be instructed to smoothly facilitate movement of goods,” the MEA said.

    “Chartered flights from India would be welcome and specific problems raised by the Indian side sorted out quickly.

    Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered any other appropriate assistance required from the Chinese government,” it added.

    On April 26, state-run Sichuan Airlines, which operates 11 cargo flights to India was suspended causing disruption of procurement of oxygen concentrators by private companies to from India to augment supplies.

    After media reports, the airline has retracted its decision and said it is working out a new plan to resume the services.

    But so far it has not announced any new schedule.

    The MEA said the telephone call concluded with a brief discussion on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and RIC (Russia-India-China) meetings of foreign ministers which are scheduled to take place in the near future under the Indian chair.

    “Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed his participation at these events,” the MEA said.