In his meeting with Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat and director of the office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, on the sidelines of a Brics meeting in Johannesburg, NSA Ajit Doval said the situation along the LAC in the western sector since 2020 had “eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship” between India and China.
According to the Indian readout of the meeting, released by the MEA, Doval emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. “The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world,” said the Indian government.
India has insisted that relations cannot return to normal until Beijing moves the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh forward and fully resolves the military standoff that began in May 2020, despite Chinese claims that the situation at the LAC has improved and the assertion that the border issue should not prevent resumption of regular bilateral exchanges.
“The Indian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to find a fundamental way to resolve the border situation in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual respect, look at the overall situation and the long-term, promote the improvement and development of bilateral relations as soon as possible, and make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and prosperity,” it said, quoting the Indian NSA.
Before the summit that will take place next month, the BRICS NSA meeting was held. PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping are both anticipated to attend the conference. The two leaders haven't met in person since the military stalemate started, but they did chat briefly last year on the sidelines of the G20 conference in Bali.