NEW DELHI: The foreign ministers of India and China on Thursday discussed the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh following the disengagement at Pangong lake and bilateral relations between the two countries over a phone call.
During the 75-minute phone call, external affairs minister S Jaishankar referred to the meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in September 2020 in Moscow where the Indian side had expressed its concern on provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo.
Jaishankar said that such attempts will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship.
The minister further emphasised that both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. The minister said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity.
Jaishankar highlighted that both sides had always agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential basis for development of bilateral relations.
He further stressed that it is necessary that the two sides should work towards early resolution of remaining issues along the LAC and disengage at all friction points.
State councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi, on his part, expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far. "It was an important step forward for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas," he said.
The two ministers agreed to remain in touch and establish a hotline.