Modi-Jinping bilateral talks after five years: PM Modi said that mutual trust and respect is important

 

Sangbad Voice 9, New Delhi Bureau: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping convened for bilateral discussions in the Russian city of Kazan on Wednesday, October 23, marking their first formal engagement in five years. The leaders underscored the imperative of expeditiously addressing the longstanding boundary dispute while fostering mutual cooperation and trust.

This meeting was particularly significant as it was the inaugural dialogue between the two heads of state following the tumultuous Galwan clash in 2020. During the 50-minute exchange, PM Modi articulated, "Our foremost priority must be the preservation of peace and stability along the border. The bedrock of our relationship should be mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity. I am optimistic that our conversations will be candid and yield constructive outcomes."

Reflecting on the protracted hiatus, Modi noted, "We are convening formally after five years. We acknowledge the consensus achieved regarding the challenges that have emerged along the border over the past four years. Ensuring tranquility at the border must remain our paramount concern."

In a complementary statement, President Xi Jinping remarked, "The two nations must adeptly navigate their differences. It is essential to bolster communication and cooperation to fulfill our developmental aspirations. India and China ought to collaborate to sustain stable relations, which will facilitate the attainment of our respective developmental objectives."

Looking ahead, special representatives from both nations are poised to convene imminently to deliberate on the border dispute. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will represent India in these forthcoming discussions.

In a related development, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on October 21 that India and China have reached an accord regarding patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This agreement aims to restore the situation to its pre-May 2020 state, signaling a potential thaw in tensions.

In a recent post on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed, "Had an excellent meeting with President Putin. The bond between India and Russia is deep-rooted. Our talks focused on how to infuse even more vigor into our bilateral partnership across diverse sectors."

During their discussions, the leaders reached a consensus to maintain active engagement aimed at fortifying the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership that exists between their nations. This partnership has not only demonstrated remarkable growth but has also exhibited resilience amid the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties.