The landmark agreement India and China reached this week to end one of the longest military standoffs in recent times received the final seal of approval on Wednesday from PM Modi and President Xi Jinping , as the two held a bilateral meeting in Kazan after a gap of five years and endorsed the deal. This, according to the Indian side, will lead to a further easing of the situation along LAC.
As the next step forward, the two agreed in their 50-minute meeting to soon have the Special Representatives (SRs) talks on the India-China boundary question, which has not taken place since 2019, and underlined the need to take relations forward from a "strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges".
The SRs - NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi - have met on several occasions on the sidelines of multilateral events, including last month in St Petersburg, but not under the SR talks format. According to an Indian readout, Modi welcomed the agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in eastern Ladakh, which also led to the deadly Galwan clash that year, and underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquillity.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that Modi also assured Xi of India's full support to China's SCO presidency in 2025. China described the meeting as constructive and one that carried great significance.
No joint statement, China talks of ‘important progress’, not ‘agreement’
China, however, did not use the word agreement in its readout, with the spokesperson only saying that Modi and Xi commended the “important progress” that had been reached through intensive communication on relevant issues in the border areas.
There was no joint statement either on the border agreement or even on the Modi-Xi meeting.
“We believe that the importance of India-China relations is not just for our people. Our relations are also important for global peace, stability and progress,’’ Modi told Xi in his opening remarks, adding he was looking forward to constructive talks with an open mind.
He also mentioned the 3 mutuals — mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity — that India has often said should form the basis of bilateral ties. India had maintained for the past 5 years that ties could return to normal only through restoration of peace and tranquillity along the border.
Xi also told Modi that it's important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, to properly handle differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations.
“It’s important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and to contribute to promoting multi-polarisation and democracy in international relations,” said Xi.
Xi also said in the meeting that “specific disagreements” should not be allowed to affect the overall relationship.
The agreement reached this week pertained to Demchok and Depsang areas, the 2 friction points where disengagement had not been completed.
The two agreed that the SRs will meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas and to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question, according to the Indian readout. It added that relevant dialogue mechanisms at the level of foreign ministers and other officials will also be utilized to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.
As the next step forward, the two agreed in their 50-minute meeting to soon have the Special Representatives (SRs) talks on the India-China boundary question, which has not taken place since 2019, and underlined the need to take relations forward from a "strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges".
The SRs - NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi - have met on several occasions on the sidelines of multilateral events, including last month in St Petersburg, but not under the SR talks format. According to an Indian readout, Modi welcomed the agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in eastern Ladakh, which also led to the deadly Galwan clash that year, and underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquillity.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that Modi also assured Xi of India's full support to China's SCO presidency in 2025. China described the meeting as constructive and one that carried great significance.
No joint statement, China talks of ‘important progress’, not ‘agreement’
China, however, did not use the word agreement in its readout, with the spokesperson only saying that Modi and Xi commended the “important progress” that had been reached through intensive communication on relevant issues in the border areas.
There was no joint statement either on the border agreement or even on the Modi-Xi meeting.
“We believe that the importance of India-China relations is not just for our people. Our relations are also important for global peace, stability and progress,’’ Modi told Xi in his opening remarks, adding he was looking forward to constructive talks with an open mind.
He also mentioned the 3 mutuals — mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity — that India has often said should form the basis of bilateral ties. India had maintained for the past 5 years that ties could return to normal only through restoration of peace and tranquillity along the border.
Xi also told Modi that it's important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, to properly handle differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations.
“It’s important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and to contribute to promoting multi-polarisation and democracy in international relations,” said Xi.
Xi also said in the meeting that “specific disagreements” should not be allowed to affect the overall relationship.
The agreement reached this week pertained to Demchok and Depsang areas, the 2 friction points where disengagement had not been completed.
The two agreed that the SRs will meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas and to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question, according to the Indian readout. It added that relevant dialogue mechanisms at the level of foreign ministers and other officials will also be utilized to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.
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