Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Pledge to Resolve Border Issues

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Laos to discuss and agree upon the resolution of ongoing border issues. This meeting comes after a previous encounter in Kazakhstan, with the focus on disengagement and maintaining respectful relations along the Line of Actual Control.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Laos, where the two leaders agreed to resolve border tensions as swiftly as possible. The countries share a poorly demarcated Himalayan border and have had strained relations since a deadly military clash in July 2020.

Jaishankar's meeting with Wang occurred on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN summit, just three weeks after their last meeting in Kazakhstan. India's foreign ministry said both ministers emphasized the need to guide the disengagement process effectively, ensuring full respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and adhering to past agreements.

In their previous meeting, Wang underscored the importance of controlling the border situation while resuming standard exchanges in other areas. Both nations, armed with nuclear capabilities, have fortified their positions along the border since the standoff four years ago. The foreign ministry emphasized an urgent need to achieve complete disengagement, with Jaishankar stating that border conditions would inevitably affect bilateral relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)