NEW DELHI: Acknowledging China’s congratulatory message to PM-designate Narendra Modi for his third term, India reminded Beijing of the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – it has cited repeatedly in recent times for restoring normalcy in bilateral relations.
While a message from President Xi Jinping is still awaited, the Chinese foreign ministry and newly appointed ambassador Xu Feihong had congratulated PM-designate Modi after the results of the Lok Sabha elections.
“Will continue to pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity,” said Minister of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on social media, in response to the message from Beijing in which it had sought healthy and stable relationship.
Bilateral ties remain plagued by the military standoff in eastern Ladakh that has entered its fifth year. While military disengagement has been achieved at four points in the western sector, the same has remained elusive in Depsang and Demchok areas even after 21 rounds of military and 15 rounds of diplomatic talks.
PM-designate Modi and President Xi have not had a formal bilateral meeting since the standoff began even though they have had “informal conversations” on the margins of Brics summit last year and G20 summit in 2022. Modi and Xi will again come face to face at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan next month. There’s no proposal fo a bilateral meeting between the leaders yet.
China believes the impasse in the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh are legacy issues and that these should not be allowed to block resumption of normal bilateral exchanges, since they predate the onset of the standoff in eastern Ladakh. India, however, has steadfastly maintained there can’t be any progress in ties till the time disengagement is effected in the remaining areas, calling it an essential basis for peace in the border areas.
While a message from President Xi Jinping is still awaited, the Chinese foreign ministry and newly appointed ambassador Xu Feihong had congratulated PM-designate Modi after the results of the Lok Sabha elections.
“Will continue to pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity,” said Minister of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on social media, in response to the message from Beijing in which it had sought healthy and stable relationship.
Bilateral ties remain plagued by the military standoff in eastern Ladakh that has entered its fifth year. While military disengagement has been achieved at four points in the western sector, the same has remained elusive in Depsang and Demchok areas even after 21 rounds of military and 15 rounds of diplomatic talks.
PM-designate Modi and President Xi have not had a formal bilateral meeting since the standoff began even though they have had “informal conversations” on the margins of Brics summit last year and G20 summit in 2022. Modi and Xi will again come face to face at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan next month. There’s no proposal fo a bilateral meeting between the leaders yet.
China believes the impasse in the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh are legacy issues and that these should not be allowed to block resumption of normal bilateral exchanges, since they predate the onset of the standoff in eastern Ladakh. India, however, has steadfastly maintained there can’t be any progress in ties till the time disengagement is effected in the remaining areas, calling it an essential basis for peace in the border areas.