India, China decide to “move ahead” at FMs meet in Delhi
India, China decide to “move ahead” at FMs meet in Delhi
Thaw in ties after 5 long years; Flights resumption, Journalists exchanges on the anvil
Delhi Crown Bureau
New Delhi: Indian and Chinese foreign ministers decided on Monday to resume direct flight connectivity between the two sides “at the earliest” and also finalise an updated “Air Services Agreement” to facilitate visas to tourists, businesses, media and other visitors.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the latter’s visit to New Delhi, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Tianjin (China) to attend the SCO Summit.
On Tuesday, the visiting Chinese FM also held delegation-level talks with India’s NSA Ajit Doval, and also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to sources, at the bilateral delegation-level meet, the two sides decided to “move ahead” after five years of strained relations following the June 2020 Galwan clashes which resulted in casualties on both sides.
“The two sides had positive, constructive and forward-looking discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest,” said the Chinese embassy in a Press Note issued on Tuesday evening.
It added, “Both sides agreed to facilitate People-to-People Exchanges, Trade and Investment flows between the two countries through concrete measures, and agreed to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas through friendly consultations.”
It was believed that both sides would soon open journalists exchanges which has been in the doldrums over the past three years, ever since both sides shunted out each other’s journalists from their soil.
Interestingly, statement issued to the media by both sides (India’s MEA included) were almost the same. According to MEA’s statement, also issued on Tuesday, “Both sides agreed to the re-opening of border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass. Both sides agreed to facilitate trade and investment flows between the two countries through concrete measures.”
It further added, “Both sides agreed to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas through friendly consultations. Both sides agreed to uphold multilateralism, enhance communication major international and regional issues, maintain a rules-based multilateral trading system with WTO at its core, and promote a multipolar world, that safeguards the interest of developing countries.”
