Positive momentum in the ties between New Delhi and Beijing can only be achieved if there is peace in the border areas, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday.

Jaishankar added that Wang’s visit to India provides the two countries with an opportunity to “meet and review our bilateral ties”.

Wang arrived in India on Monday to attend the 24th round of Special Representatives’ talks on border matters.

During their meeting, Jaishankar told the Chinese foreign minister: “It is also an appropriate time to exchange views on the global situation and some issues of mutual interest.”

He added that while India and China had seen a difficult period in their bilateral ties, both countries were seeking to move ahead.

“This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides,” Jaishankar said. “In that endeavour, we must be guided by the three mutuals…mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.”

Border tensions between India and China escalated in June 2020 when a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control. It led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. Beijing said that the clash left four of its soldiers dead.

Following this, both countries deployed thousands of troops along with heavy artillery in the region.

On Monday, Jaishankar said that Wang will discuss matters related to the tensions on the borders with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday.

“This is very important because the basis of any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas,” Jaishankar said. “It is also essential that the de-escalation process moves forward.”

The foreign minister said meetings between the world’s two largest countries would also cover global developments.

“We seek a fair, balanced and multipolar world order including a multipolar Asia,” he said. “In the current environment, there is clearly an imperative of maintaining and enhancing stability in the global economy as well.”

The statement came against the backdrop of Washington imposing “reciprocal” tariffs on several countries that have not negotiated separate trade agreements with it to settle trade deficits.

Jaishankar said that he hoped that the discussions with Wang would contribute to building a “stable, cooperative and forward-looking relationship between India and China, one that serves both our interests and addresses our concerns”.

Since the Galwan clashes, China and India have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve their border standoff.

In October, the two countries announced that they had reached a patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control, “leading to the disengagement” of the two militaries in eastern Ladakh.

The agreement came two days before Modi and Xi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. This was the first formal meeting of the two leaders since the military standoff began in mid-2020.

In December, Doval visited Beijing for the 23rd round of Special Representatives’ talks.

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