External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing and called for an open dialogue between the two countries amid what he described as a complex global situation. Jaishankar, who is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, expressed confidence that talks during his visit would help sustain the recent improvement in bilateral ties.
In his opening remarks during the meeting, Jaishankar noted that India fully supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO and underlined the steady progress in ties since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October. He said he was hopeful that this visit would keep that positive momentum intact.
“Let me say that it is a pleasure to be with you during my visit to the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting. India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed out, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions on this visit will maintain that positive trajectory,” Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister also highlighted that both countries had recently marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“We have marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” he said.
Acknowledging the complicated state of global affairs, the External Affairs Minister said that as neighbouring nations and major economies, India and China must maintain an open exchange of views and perspectives.
“The international situation, as we meet today, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important,” he added.
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