External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting at Dushanbe in Tajikistan. The two held an hour long discussion on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and other issues related to India-China relations. As per an MEA update, the Minister said that the existing situation was "visibly impacting the relationship (between the two nations) in a negative manner".
"Highlighted that unilateral change of status quo is not acceptable. Full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas is essential for development of our ties. Agreed on convening an early meeting of the Senior Military Commanders," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.
A Ministry of External Affairs statement said that Jaishankar conveyed that the attempts to change the status quo last year that also disregarded commitments under the 1993 and 1996 agreements have inevitably affected ties. The Minister also called for the two nations to work in tandem towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC while abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols.
"EAM pointed out to State Councilor 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. EAM noted however that the situation in remaining areas is still unresolved," the statement said.
The two Ministers have agreed to remain in touch and agreed to convene another round of the Meeting of Senior Military Commanders "at the earliest". During this meeting, the two sides "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 statement said.
